DEF 14A 1 d283266ddef14a.htm DEFINITIVE NOTICE & PROXY STATEMENT <![CDATA[Definitive Notice & Proxy Statement]]>
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

 

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.    )

 

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   Definitive Proxy Statement     

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   Definitive Additional Materials     

¨

   Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12     

 

 

Bank of America Corporation


(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 


(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

 

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LOGO

 

March 28, 2012

 

Dear Fellow Stockholders:

 

I am pleased to invite you to the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 10:00 a.m., local time, on May 9, 2012, in the auditorium of the Bank of America offices in 1 Bank of America Center, Charlotte, North Carolina.

 

At the annual meeting, there will be a discussion and vote on the matters described in the notice of our annual meeting and proxy statement followed by a report from Chief Executive Officer, Brian Moynihan on the businesses. Please read through the proxy statement and 2011 annual report carefully.

 

Brian and the management team are making progress in a difficult environment. In 2011, the company increased capital and liquidity substantially. It sold businesses and other assets to simplify the company and make it easier to serve its customers and clients with fewer distractions. There is work ahead, of course, but these moves have positioned the company to compete effectively, create greater stockholder value, and generate the returns the stockholders deserve. With millions of customers and clients; the leading combination of products and services available to serve their needs; and a capable, experienced leadership team, I believe the company is on the right course. The annual meeting is a time to learn more about the company’s progress.

 

I would like to take this opportunity to also thank fellow director Paul Jones, who has decided not to stand for re-election to our board, for his two-and-a-half years of service. We have benefited greatly from his judgment and experience.

 

I hope to see you at the annual meeting in Charlotte. If you are unable to attend, you will be able to listen live and view our slide presentation over the Internet at http://investor.bankofamerica.com. Whether or not you plan to attend, I encourage you to promptly submit your vote by the Internet, telephone or mail, as applicable, to ensure that your shares are represented at our annual meeting.

 

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Charles O. Holliday, Jr.

Chairman of the Board


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Notice of 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders


 

Date:    May 9, 2012
Time:    10:00 a.m., local time
Place:   

1 Bank of America Center Auditorium

150 North College Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

 

Matters to be voted on:

 

   

Election of the 12 directors named in the proxy statement for the ensuing year;

 

   

An advisory vote to approve executive compensation;

 

   

A proposal to ratify the appointment of our registered independent public accounting firm for 2012;

 

   

Stockholder proposals set forth at pages 53 through 61 in the proxy statement, if they are properly presented at our annual meeting; and

 

   

Any other business that may properly come before our annual meeting.

 

Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 14, 2012 will be entitled to vote at our annual meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

Your vote is very important. Please submit your proxy as soon as possible via the Internet, telephone or mail, as applicable. Complete instructions for voting are outlined in “Voting Instructions and Other Information” on page 62 in the proxy statement.

 

If you plan to attend our annual meeting in person, you will need to bring photo identification and proof of stock ownership in order to be admitted to the meeting. Our admission and ownership verification procedures are described in “Attending our Annual Meeting” on page 63 in the proxy statement. Please note that the use of cameras (including cell phones with photographic capabilities), recording devices and other electronic devices is strictly prohibited at the meeting.

 

By order of the Board of Directors

 

LOGO

Lauren A. Mogensen

Corporate Secretary

March 28, 2012


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CONTENTS

 

• Proposal 1: Election of Directors

   1

Identifying and Evaluating Nominees for Director

   1

The Nominees

   2

Corporate Governance

   7

Our Board of Directors

   7

Director Independence

   7

Board Leadership

   8

Board Meetings, Committee Membership and Attendance

   9

Board Oversight of Risk

   10

Compensation Governance and Risk Management

   11

Chief Executive Officer and Senior Management Succession Planning

   12

Board Executive Sessions

   13

Board Evaluation and Education

   13

Political Contributions

   13

Communications with our Board

   13

Additional Corporate Governance Information Available

   14

Director Compensation

   14

Review of Related Person and Certain Other Transactions

   17

• Proposal 2: An Advisory (Non-Binding) “Say on Pay” Vote to Approve Executive Compensation

   18

Compensation and Benefits Committee Report

   20

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

   20

Executive Summary

   20

Overview of Our Executive Compensation Program

   22

Our Compensation and Benefits Committee’s Review of Performance

   23

Our 2011 Compensation Decisions

   26

Our Other Compensation Practices

   29

Executive Compensation

   32

Summary Compensation Table

   32

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

   36

Year-End Equity Values and Equity Exercised or Vested

   39

Pension Benefits

   40

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

   43

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

   46

Stock Ownership of Directors, Executive Officers and Certain Beneficial Owners

   49

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

   51

Audit Committee Report

   51

•  Proposal 3: Ratification of the Appointment of the Registered Independent Public Accounting Firm for 2012

   52

PwC’s 2011 and 2010 Fees

   52

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

   52

• Proposals 4 through 8: Stockholder Proposals

   53

Voting Instructions and Other Information

   62

General Information

   64

• Represents a matter to be voted on at the annual meeting

    


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Internet Availability of Proxy Materials


 

This year, we are using for the first time a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rule that allows us to furnish proxy materials to stockholders over the Internet. As a result, beginning on or about March 28, 2012, we sent by mail or e-mail a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, containing instructions on how to access our proxy materials, including our proxy statement and 2011 annual report, over the Internet and how to vote. Internet availability of our proxy materials is designed to expedite receipt by stockholders and lower the cost and environmental impact of the annual meeting. However, if you received such a notice and would prefer to receive paper copies of the proxy materials, please follow the instructions included in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials.

 

If you received your proxy materials via e-mail, the e-mail contains voting instructions, including a control number required to vote your shares, and links to the proxy statement and the 2011 annual report on the Internet. If you received your proxy materials by mail, the notice of annual meeting, proxy statement, proxy card or voting instruction form and annual report are enclosed.

 

If you hold our stock through more than one account, you may receive multiple copies of these proxy materials and will have to follow the instructions of each in order to vote all of your shares of our stock.

 

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials

for the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be Held on May 9, 2012:

Our Proxy Statement and 2011 Annual Report to Stockholders are available at

http://investor.bankofamerica.com.


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Proxy Statement


 

We are providing or making available this proxy statement for the purpose of soliciting your proxy. The Board of Directors of Bank of America Corporation (Bank of America or our company) requests that you submit your proxy via the Internet, telephone or mail to allow your shares to be represented and voted at our annual meeting. This proxy statement is being provided or made available starting on or about March 28, 2012.

 

Proposal 1: Election of Directors

 

Identifying and Evaluating Nominees for Director

 

Our Board is pleased to present 12 nominees for election as directors at our annual meeting, all of whom currently serve as directors on our Board and were elected by stockholders at our 2011 annual meeting. D. Paul Jones, Jr., currently a director of our company, will not be standing for re-election at our annual meeting. The Board has determined not to fill the resulting vacancy and has reduced the size of our Board to 12 directors effective upon the expiration of Mr. Jones’ term at our annual meeting. Each director elected will serve a term of office until our next annual meeting or until a successor is duly elected and qualified. We do not know of any reason why any nominee would be unable to serve as a director. If any nominee is unable to stand for election for any reason, the shares represented at our annual meeting may be voted for another candidate proposed by the Board, or the Board may choose to reduce its size.

 

Our Board is responsible for identifying and evaluating candidates for Board membership. Our Board believes our directors should possess backgrounds, qualifications, attributes and skills that, when taken together, provide our company with a broad range of experience in large, complex organizations; regulated industries; consumer, commercial and corporate businesses; international organizations; financial and regulatory oversight; strategic planning; risk management; and technology. See “The Nominees” on page 2 for the qualifications that our Board considers important for our nominees.

 

Our director nomination standards are set forth in our Corporate Governance Guidelines and include the following:

 

   

candidates should be capable of working in a collegial manner with persons of diverse educational, business and cultural backgrounds and should possess skills and expertise that complement the attributes of the existing directors;

 

   

candidates should represent a diversity of viewpoints, backgrounds, experiences and other demographics;

 

   

candidates should demonstrate notable or significant achievement and possess senior-level business, management or regulatory experience that would benefit our company;

 

   

candidates shall be individuals of the highest character and integrity;

 

   

candidates shall be free of conflicts of interest that would interfere with their ability to discharge their duties or that would violate any applicable laws or regulations;

 

   

candidates shall be capable of devoting the necessary time to discharge their duties, taking into account memberships on other boards and other responsibilities; and

 

   

candidates shall have a desire to represent the interests of all stockholders.

 

Our Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for recommending candidates to our Board for nomination. When considering potential director nominees, the Committee reviews available information regarding each potential candidate including qualifications, experience, skills and integrity as well as race, gender and ethnicity. The Committee and our Board also consider past performance before nominating any director for re-election. Although we do not have a formal policy regarding diversity, our Board views its diversity as a priority and seeks diverse representation among its members. Our Board, through the Corporate Governance Committee, assesses our Board’s diversity when identifying and evaluating director candidates to serve on our Board. Of our 13 current directors, one is a citizen of India, one is African-American and two are women, one of whom is Hispanic.

 

Our Corporate Governance Committee will consider candidates proposed or suggested by Board members, management, third party search firms and our stockholders. The Committee follows the same director selection process and uses the same criteria for evaluating candidates regardless of their source. During 2011, the Corporate Governance Committee engaged a third party search firm to identify and preliminarily vet potential director candidates for the Committee’s consideration.


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Any stockholder who wishes to recommend a candidate for consideration by the Corporate Governance Committee for nomination at an annual meeting must submit a written proposal recommending the candidate to the Corporate Secretary, Bank of America Corporation, Hearst Tower, 214 North Tryon Street, NC1-027-20-05, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255 prior to October 15th of the preceding year. The information required to be included in the proposal is set forth in our Corporate Governance Guidelines which are posted on our website at http://investor.bankofamerica.com.

 

The Nominees

 

We have set forth below each nominee’s name, age as of our annual meeting date, principal occupation, business experience and public company directorships held during the past five years.

 

Our Board selected these nominees based on their experience, qualifications, attributes and skills and the belief that each can make unique and substantial contributions to our company. All of our nominees are seasoned leaders, the majority of whom have served as chief executive officers, and bring to our Board a vast array of public company, financial services, private company, public sector, non-profit and other business experience from domestic and international organizations. Our nominees have held, or currently hold, leadership positions in complex financial services organizations; management roles in the areas of risk, operations, finance, technology and global human resources; and positions within regulatory organizations with primary oversight of our industry. In addition, our nominees represent diverse viewpoints and a blend of historical and new perspectives as a result of their varied tenures as directors of our company. Our Board believes this mix among the nominees enhances our Board’s effectiveness in light of our company’s businesses and organizational complexities, our industry’s operating environment and our company’s long-term strategy.

 

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that a director who has reached the age of 72 should not be nominated for initial election to the Board, although the Board may approve the nomination for re-election of a director at or after the age of 72 if, in light of all circumstances, it is in the best interests of the company and its stockholders. Virgis W. Colbert is a current director who is being nominated for re-election to the Board at our annual meeting, although he is 72. Mr. Colbert, an independent director since 2009, serves on the Compensation and Benefits, Corporate Governance and Credit Committees and a compliance subcommittee of Bank of America, National Association’s board of directors organized to oversee various mortgage servicing actions and obligations, and provides the Board and its committees a unique historical perspective due to his service on the legacy Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. board of directors from 2006 through 2009, when Merrill Lynch was acquired by the company. Mr. Colbert also brings to the Board expertise in domestic and international operations and logistics management, which the Board continues to view as valuable to its work. The Board, therefore, determined to nominate Mr. Colbert for an additional term as director.

 

Our Board recommends a vote “FOR” all of the nominees listed below for election as directors (Proposal 1).

 

 
Mukesh D. Ambani; 55; Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries Limited

 

LOGO

  

-   Independent Director since March 2011.

-   Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Limited, India’s largest private conglomerate engaging in the exploration and production of oil and gas; petroleum refining and marketing; and petrochemical and retail businesses, since 2002, where he has served in a variety of key leadership positions since 1981.

-   Member of the United Nations’ Advocacy Group supporting the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals since 2010.

-   Other Current Directorships: Reliance Industries Limited (India); Reliance Retail Limited (India); Infotel Broadband Services Limited (India).

 

Mr. Ambani’s role as Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Limited provides him with broad experience in the management and oversight of large, complex international businesses, and expertise in risk management and strategic planning. Mr. Ambani has significant experience relevant to our company through building Reliance’s leadership positions in refining, petrochemical exploration and production as well as organized retail. Mr. Ambani’s membership on the UN Advocacy Group supporting the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals provides him further experience with large international organizations.

 

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Susan S. Bies; 65; Former Member, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

 

LOGO

  

-   Independent Director since June 2009.

-   Senior Advisory Board Member to Oliver Wyman Group, a management consulting subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., since February 2009.

-   Member of the SEC’s Advisory Committee on Improving Financial Reporting and Chairman of that committee’s Substantive Complexity Subcommittee from 2007 to 2008.

-   Governor of the Federal Reserve System, the central bank of the U.S., from 2001 to 2007.

-   Chief Financial Officer; Chairman of the Asset-Liability Management Committee and Executive Risk Management Committee; and Executive Vice President of Risk Management of First Tennessee National Corporation, a regional bank holding company, where she was employed from 1979 to 2001.

-   Other Current Directorships: Zurich Financial Services Ltd. (Switzerland).

 

Both Ms. Bies’ role as a Federal Reserve System Governor and her tenure with First Tennessee National Corporation provide her with broad expertise in consumer banking, financial regulation and risk management. In particular, Ms. Bies focused on enterprise financial and risk management during her career with First Tennessee National Corporation and further expanded her regulatory expertise by serving on the SEC’s Advisory Committee on Improving Financial Reporting. Her experience with a primary regulator of our company, as well as her other regulatory and public policy experience, give her a unique and valuable perspective relevant to our company’s business, financial performance and risk oversight.

Frank P. Bramble, Sr.; 63; Former Executive Officer, MBNA Corporation

 

LOGO

  

-   Independent Director since January 2006.

-   Advisor to the Executive Committee from April 2005 to December 2005 and Vice Chairman from July 2002 to April 2005 of MBNA Corporation, a financial services company acquired by Bank of America in January 2006.

-   Director from April 1994 to May 2002 and Chairman from December 1999 to May 2002 of Allfirst Financial, Inc. and Allfirst Bank, wholly owned U.S. subsidiaries of Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c.

-   Lecturer at Towson University since his retirement in 2006.

 

Mr. Bramble brings broad ranging financial services expertise as well as historical insight to our Board, having held leadership positions at two financial service companies acquired by our company (MBNA Corporation, acquired in 2006, and MNC Financial, acquired in 1993). As a former executive officer of one of the largest credit card issuers in the U.S. and a major regional bank, he has dealt with a wide range of issues of importance to our company, including credit cycles, sales and marketing of consumers, audit and financial reporting and risk management.

Virgis W. Colbert; 72; Senior Advisor, MillerCoors Company

 

LOGO

  

-   Independent Director since January 2009.

-   Senior Advisor to MillerCoors Company, a beverage manufacturing company, since his retirement from that company in 2006.

-   Executive Vice President of Worldwide Operations from 1997 to 2005 for Miller Brewing Company, a predecessor of MillerCoors Company, where he served in a variety of key leadership positions, including Senior Vice President of Worldwide Operations, Senior Vice President of Operations, Vice President of Plant Operations and Vice President of Materials Manufacturing, since 1979.

-   Chairman Emeritus of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Fisk University.

-   Other Current Directorships: Lorillard, Inc.; The Manitowoc Company, Inc.; Sara Lee Corporation; Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

-   Prior Directorships: Delphi Corporation; Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

 

Mr. Colbert has many years of experience in the management and oversight of international businesses through his professional service with MillerCoors Company. He brings significant expertise in domestic and international operations, logistics management, change management and strategic planning. Through his service on other public company boards, he has dealt with a broad array of issues, including risk management and corporate governance issues.

 

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Charles K. Gifford; 69; Former Chairman, Bank of America Corporation

 

LOGO

  

-   Director since April 2004.

-   Chairman of Bank of America from April 2004 until his retirement in January 2005.

-   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 2002 to 2004 of FleetBoston Financial Corporation, a financial services company acquired by our company in April 2004.

-   President and Chief Executive Officer from 2001 to 2002 and President and Chief Operating Officer from 1999 to 2001 of FleetBoston Financial Corporation.

-   Other Current Directorships: CBS Corporation; NSTAR.

 

Mr. Gifford’s banking career with our company and one of our predecessor companies, FleetBoston Financial Corporation, brings in-depth knowledge of the financial services industry and significant financial expertise relevant to all activities of our company. Under his stewardship, Mr. Gifford transformed the strategic direction of a regional bank during a recessionary period to create one of the largest financial services companies in New England. His historical perspective and managerial and leadership experience through past economic cycles provide valuable insight on the issues facing our company’s businesses.

Charles O. Holliday, Jr.; 64; Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DuPont de Nemours and Company

 

LOGO

  

-   Independent Director since September 2009; and Chairman of the Board since April 2010.

-   Chairman from January 1999 to December 2009 and Chief Executive Officer from January 1998 to December 2008 of DuPont de Nemours and Company (DuPont), a science-based products and services company.

-   Executive-in-Residence at Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Management since July 2009.

-   Chairman of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and Chairman Emeritus of the U.S. Council on Competitiveness.

-   Other Current Directorships: CH2M HILL Companies, Ltd.; Deere & Company; Royal Dutch Shell plc (the Netherlands).

-   Prior Directorships: DuPont.

 

Through his tenure with DuPont, Mr. Holliday gained extensive experience leading large, complex, multi-national operations, managing risk and strategic planning and marketing to a varied customer base. His continued service as Chairman of DuPont’s board following his retirement as Chief Executive Officer offers him a perspective relevant to his current role as our independent Board Chairman. Mr. Holliday’s recognition as an international business leader, serving as Chairman of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, an organization that brings the international business community together to create a sustainable future for business, society and the environment, gives him a unique perspective on sustainability issues impacting our company in the future global marketplace. His service as Chairman Emeritus of the U.S. Council on Competitiveness, a non-partisan, non-governmental organization working to ensure U.S. prosperity, provides him with a unique insight into the company’s long-term competitive challenges. In addition, Mr. Holliday was a founding member of the International Business Council, furthering his leadership of and experience with large global organizations.

 

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Monica C. Lozano; 55; Chief Executive Officer, ImpreMedia, LLC

 

LOGO

  

-   Independent Director since April 2006.

-   Chief Executive Officer of ImpreMedia, LLC, the largest Hispanic newspaper publisher in the U.S., since May 2010; and Senior Vice President from January 2004 to May 2010.

-   Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of La Opinion, a subsidiary of ImpreMedia, since January 2004.

-   President and Chief Operating Officer of Lozano Enterprises from 2000 to 2004.

-   Member of the Board of Regents of the University of California since 2001 and Trustee of the University of Southern California since 1991.

-   Member of President Obama’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board since February 2009.

-   Commissioner on the State of California Commission on the 21st Century Economy since
December 2008.

-   Other Current Directorships: ImpreMedia, LLC; The Walt Disney Company.

 

Ms. Lozano is the Chief Executive Officer of the largest Hispanic news and information company in the U.S. In this role she has dealt with a wide range of issues such as operations management, marketing, strategic planning and an understanding of issues that are important to a growing U.S. demographic. Her public company board service for The Walt Disney Company and her roles with the University of California and the University of Southern California give her board-level experience overseeing large organizations with diversified operations and the range of issues that these types of companies have such as governance, risk management and financial reporting. Ms. Lozano’s experience as a member of President Obama’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board also gives her valuable perspective on important public policy, societal and economic issues relevant to our company.

Thomas J. May; 65; Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, NSTAR

 

LOGO

  

-   Independent Director since April 2004.

-   President since 2002 and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since 1999 of NSTAR, an energy utility company.

-   Other Current Directorships: NSTAR; Liberty Mutual Holding Company, Inc.

 

As Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President and the former Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of NSTAR, a regulated investor-owned electric and gas utility, Mr. May has experience with operations, risk management, international growth and business development, strategic planning and corporate governance matters, which gives him a unique insight into the issues facing our company’s businesses today. In addition, as a Certified Public Accountant, Mr. May brings strong accounting and financial skills, which give him a professional perspective on financial reporting and enterprise and operational risk management.

Brian T. Moynihan; 52; President and Chief Executive Officer, Bank of America Corporation

 

LOGO

  

-   Director since January 2010.

-   President and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of America since January 2010.

-   Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive Officer and President, he served in various leadership positions at our company: President, Consumer and Small Business Banking (August 2009 to December 2009); President, Global Banking and Global Wealth Management (January 2009 to August 2009); General Counsel (December 2008 to January 2009); President, Global Corporate and Investment Banking (October 2007 to December 2008); and President, Global Wealth and Investment Management (April 2004 to October 2007).

-   Prior to Bank of America’s acquisition of FleetBoston Financial Corporation, he served as Executive Vice President of FleetBoston from 1999 to April 2004, with responsibility for Brokerage and Wealth Management from 2000 and Regional Commercial Financial Services and Investment Management from May 2003.

-   Other Current Directorships: Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

-   Prior Directorships: BlackRock, Inc.

 

Mr. Moynihan has many years of broad financial services experience, including wholesale and retail businesses, as well as international and domestic experience. As Chief Executive Officer, he has a deep understanding of all aspects of our company’s business. In 2009, he led the integration of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. His experience leading our consumer banking, commercial banking, investment banking and wealth management businesses, as well as sales and trading operations and our legal department at various times gives him a valuable perspective on our company.

 

5


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Donald E. Powell; 71; Former Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

 

LOGO

  

-   Independent Director since June 2009.

-   Federal Coordinator for the Office of Gulf Coast Rebuilding from November 2005 until his engagement in private investment activities in March 2008.

-   Chairman of the FDIC, an independent agency of the U.S. federal government, from August 2001 to November 2005.

-   Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of The First National Bank of Amarillo from 1997 to 2001.

-   Recipient of Presidential Citizens Medal in December 2008.

-   Member of the Board of Regents of the Texas A&M University System from 1995 to 2001, during which he served two terms as Chairman.

-   Other Current Directorships: Stone Energy Corporation; QR Energy L.P.; Merrill Lynch International (United Kingdom).

 

Mr. Powell has vast financial services expertise, having worked in our industry for over 40 years. As the former Chairman of the FDIC, Mr. Powell provides a unique perspective on the regulatory process and in dealing with regulators and government agencies. In addition, he brings large-scale operations and risk management expertise to our Board through his work as the Federal Coordinator tasked with rebuilding plans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and his service on the Board of Regents of the Texas A&M University System.

 
Charles O. Rossotti; 71; Senior Advisor, The Carlyle Group

 

LOGO

  

-   Independent Director since January 2009.

-   Senior Advisor to The Carlyle Group, a private global investment firm, since 2003.

-   Commissioner of Internal Revenue of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from 1997 to 2002.

-   Co-founded American Management Systems, Inc., an international business and information technology consulting firm in 1970, where he served at various times as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board until 1997.

-   Other Current Directorships: Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation; The AES Corporation.

-   Prior Directorships: Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

 

Mr. Rossotti has corporate and regulatory experience to provide relevant expertise in audit, financial reporting, operations and risk management. He co-founded, led and grew an international business systems/systems integration consulting firm and subsequently significantly reformed the IRS’s organization, service, enforcement strategy and technology. His board service for Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation and The AES Corporation gives him experience with the issues our company faces, such as financial reporting, risk management and global operations.

Robert W. Scully; 62; Former Member of the Office of the Chairman, Morgan Stanley

 

LOGO

  

-   Independent Director since August 2009.

-   Member, Office of the Chairman of Morgan Stanley, a financial services company, from December 2007 until his retirement in January 2009.

-   Co-President of Morgan Stanley from February 2006 to December 2007, Chairman of Global Capital Markets from December 2004 to February 2006 and Vice Chairman of Investment Banking from September 1999 to February 2006.

-   Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 1996, he served as a Managing Director at Lehman Brothers and at Salomon Brothers.

-   Other Current Directorships: Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.

-   Prior Directorships: GMAC LLC; MSCI Inc.

 

Mr. Scully’s career in the financial services industry brings critical expertise to our Board’s oversight of our investment banking, capital markets, wealth management, card services and commercial lending businesses. His leadership experience with a global financial services company brings an industry perspective to our business development outside the U.S. as well as issues such as executive compensation, risk management and audit and financial reporting.

 

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Corporate Governance

 

Our Board of Directors

 

Our Board is responsible for the oversight of the management of our company. Key responsibilities of our Board, performed with or through its committees, include oversight of the following:

 

   

management’s identification of, management of and planning for our company’s material risks, including operational risk, credit risk, market risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, reputational risk, legal risk and regulatory compliance risk as well as risks related to capital management and liquidity planning;

 

   

our company’s maintenance of high ethical standards and effective policies and practices to protect our company’s reputation, assets and business;

 

   

management’s development and implementation of an annual financial plan and oversight of strategic business plans for our company;

 

   

our corporate audit functions, our registered independent public accounting firm and the integrity of the consolidated financial statements of our company; and

 

   

our company’s establishment, maintenance and administration of appropriately designed compensation programs and employee benefits plans.

 

The Board is also responsible for:

 

   

reviewing, monitoring and approving the succession plan for our Chief Executive Officer and other key executives to provide for continuity in senior management;

 

   

conducting an annual performance evaluation of our Board and its committees;

 

   

identifying and evaluating director nominees and nominating qualified individuals for election by our stockholders to serve on our Board; and

 

   

reviewing the performance of our Chief Executive Officer and approving of the total annual compensation awards for our Chief Executive Officer and our other executive officers.

 

Director Independence

 

To assist it in making the annual affirmative determination of each director’s independence status, our Board has adopted Director Independence Categorical Standards, which are posted on our website at http://investor.bankofamerica.com. A director is considered “independent” if he or she meets the criteria for independence in both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) listing standards and our Categorical Standards.

 

Our Board has evaluated the relationships between each current director (and his or her immediate family members and affiliates) and Bank of America and its subsidiaries. Our Board has affirmatively determined, upon the recommendation of our Corporate Governance Committee, that each of the following non-management directors is independent under the NYSE listing standards and our Categorical Standards: Mr. Ambani, Ms. Bies, Mr. Bramble, Mr. Colbert, Mr. Holliday, Mr. Jones, Ms. Lozano, Mr. May, Mr. Powell, Mr. Rossotti and Mr. Scully. In addition, our Board affirmatively determined, upon the recommendation of our Corporate Governance Committee, that William P. Boardman, who served as a director until the expiration of his term at our 2011 annual meeting, was an independent director under the NYSE listing standards and our Categorical Standards.

 

Our Board has determined that Charles K. Gifford and Brian T. Moynihan do not meet the independence standards. Mr. Gifford entered into a retirement agreement with us in connection with his retirement as a Bank of America employee effective January 31, 2005. The agreement remained in effect through January 31, 2010 and, under the agreement, Mr. Gifford received compensation from us which exceeded the threshold set forth in the NYSE listing standards and our Categorical Standards in a 12-month period during the last three years. As our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Moynihan is not independent.

 

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In making its independence determinations, our Board considered the following ordinary course, non-preferential relationships that existed during the preceding three years between our company and its subsidiaries, and our directors, director nominees, their immediate family members and the business organizations and individuals associated with them:

 

   

The company’s banking and other lending subsidiaries had ordinary course banking and financial services relationships with all of our directors, some of their respective immediate family members and some of the entities affiliated with our directors and their immediate family members.

 

   

The company or its subsidiaries purchased products or services in the ordinary course from ImpreMedia, LLC (advertising and marketing) and NSTAR (the local energy utility provider where our Massachusetts offices are located) where Ms. Lozano and Mr. May are executive officers, respectively. The fees paid to each of ImpreMedia, LLC and NSTAR fell below the thresholds in the NYSE listing standards and our Categorical Standards.

 

   

The company or its subsidiaries provided banking products or services, including capital markets, credit, deposit, investment banking, leasing, trade and treasury services, in the ordinary course, to Reliance Industries Limited or NSTAR where Mr. Ambani and Mr. May are executive officers, respectively. The fees we received from each of Reliance Industries Limited and NSTAR fell below the thresholds in the NYSE listing standards and our Categorical Standards, and were less than 2% of our consolidated gross annual revenues.

 

   

The company or its subsidiaries provided banking products or services, including capital markets, credit and treasury services, in the ordinary course to, and purchased products or services, including marketing-webcast services and utilities, in the ordinary course from, Reliance ADA Group or its subsidiaries where Mr. Ambani’s immediate family member is an executive officer. The fees paid by or to Reliance ADA Group or its subsidiaries fell below the thresholds in the NYSE listing standards and our Categorical Standards, and were less than 2% of our consolidated gross annual revenues.

 

   

As we have previously disclosed in each of our proxy statements over the last two years, the company or its subsidiaries received legal services in the ordinary course from a law firm where Mr. Rossotti’s immediate family member is a partner but does not actively provide services to the law firm’s corporate clients, including the company or its subsidiaries. The law firm was first retained by our company or its subsidiaries before Mr. Rossotti’s election to our Board and, in each of the last three years, the fees paid to the law firm represented an extremely small percentage of our company’s overall expenditures on legal fees (substantially less than 1% of all fees paid by our company to law firms) and a small percent of the law firm’s revenues, falling below the thresholds in the NYSE listing standards and our Categorical Standards for independence. In addition, the company or its subsidiaries provided banking products or services, including capital markets, credit and treasury services, in the ordinary course, to the law firm which fell below the thresholds in the NYSE listing standards and our Categorical Standards.

 

Our Board has determined that, based on the information available to it, none of these relationships constituted a material relationship between the director and our company or its subsidiaries for the purposes of the NYSE listing standards and our Categorical Standards.

 

Board Leadership

 

Our Board is committed to strong, independent Board leadership and believes that objective oversight of management’s performance is a critical aspect of effective Board leadership. Our Board’s current leadership structure includes an independent Chairman of the Board and the Audit, Compensation and Benefits, Corporate Governance and Enterprise Risk Committees are each chaired by and comprised solely of independent directors. At least annually, our Board deliberates on and discusses its appropriate leadership structure and the role and responsibilities of our Chairman of the Board and our Board’s committees, based upon the needs of our company, to facilitate our Board’s independent oversight of management. Our Board, upon the recommendation of our Corporate Governance Committee, appointed Mr. Holliday as our independent Chairman of the Board on April 28, 2010.

 

Our Board believes that its current leadership structure, in which the positions of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board are held by two different individuals, is appropriate for our company at this time because our Chief Executive Officer and our Chairman of the Board fulfill separate and distinct roles. Our Chief Executive Officer is responsible

 

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for the day-to-day management of our company while our Chairman of the Board presides over meetings of our Board and acts as liaison between the independent directors and our Chief Executive Officer. The Board believes that this leadership structure has proven to be effective under our current circumstances. In addition, consistent with this leadership structure, our Bylaws require that our Chairman of the Board be independent as defined by the NYSE listing standards.

 

Board Meetings, Committee Membership and Attendance

 

Directors are expected to attend our annual meetings of stockholders and all regular and special meetings of our Board and committees on which they serve. In 2011, there were 18 meetings of our Board, and each of the current directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate meetings of the Board and committees on which they served. All directors attended our 2011 annual meeting except for one director, who was not standing for re-election.

 

Our Board has six standing committees: Audit, Compensation and Benefits, Corporate Governance, Credit, Enterprise Risk and Executive. The charter for each committee, more fully describing its responsibilities, can be found at http://investor.bankofamerica.com. The table below indicates our current committee membership and the number of times each committee met in 2011. Our Board will consider committee membership for the 2012 term following our annual meeting.

 

Director Name  

Audit

Committee

     

Compensation
and Benefits

Committee

     

Corporate
Governance

Committee

      Credit
Committee
      Enterprise
Risk
Committee
     

Executive

Committee

Mukesh D. Ambani

          Member               Member                

Susan S. Bies

  Member                               Member        

Frank P. Bramble, Sr.

                  Member               Chair        

Virgis W. Colbert

          Member       Member       Member                

Charles K. Gifford

                          Chair               Member

Charles O. Holliday, Jr.
(Chairman of the Board)

                                          Chair

D. Paul Jones, Jr.

  Member               Member                        

Monica C. Lozano

                  Member       Member               Member

Thomas J. May

                  Chair               Member        

Brian T. Moynihan

                                          Member

Donald E. Powell

  Member       Member                               Member

Charles O. Rossotti

  Chair                                        

Robert W. Scully

  Member       Chair                                

Number of Meetings in 2011

  16       11       9       11       11       0

 

Our committees make recommendations to our Board as appropriate and regularly report on their activities to the entire Board.

 

Audit Committee. Our Audit Committee assists our Board in the oversight of the qualifications, performance and independence of our company’s registered independent public accounting firm; the performance of our company’s internal audit function; the integrity of our company’s consolidated financial statements; and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Our Board has determined that all Committee members are independent under the NYSE listing standards and the Categorical Standards, and under the heightened independence requirements applicable to audit committees under the SEC rules and regulations. Our Board has also determined that all Committee members are financially literate in accordance with the NYSE listing standards and qualify as audit committee financial experts under SEC rules.

 

Compensation and Benefits Committee. Our Compensation and Benefits Committee oversees the establishment, maintenance and administration of our compensation programs and employee benefit plans, including approving and recommending the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer to our Board for its approval and approving all of our executive officers’ compensation. In addition, the Committee recommends director compensation for approval by our Board. The Committee engaged Frederic W. Cook & Company (Cook) as its independent compensation consultant for 2011. Cook meets regularly with the Committee outside the presence of management and alone with the Committee chairman (see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 20 and “Compensation Governance and Risk Management” below for more details). All Committee members are independent under the NYSE listing standards,

 

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our Categorical Standards and the heightened independence requirements we adopted in 2010 for members of the Committee, which are the same as the heightened independence requirements applicable to audit committees under SEC rules and regulations.

 

Corporate Governance Committee. Our Corporate Governance Committee exercises oversight of our Board’s governance processes; identifies and reviews the qualifications of individuals to become Board members; recommends nominees for election to our Board; recommends committee appointments to our Board; reviews and reports to the Board on senior management and talent planning and succession (see “Chief Executive Officer and Senior Management Succession Planning” on page 12); and leads the Board and its committees in their annual assessments of their performance. All Committee members are independent under the NYSE listing standards and our Categorical Standards.

 

Credit Committee. Our Credit Committee exercises oversight of senior management’s identification and management of our company’s credit exposures on an enterprise-wide basis and our company’s responses to trends affecting those exposures. The Committee also oversees senior management’s actions relating to the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses and our company’s credit-related policies. All Committee members are non-management directors.

 

Enterprise Risk Committee. Our Enterprise Risk Committee exercises oversight of the Chief Executive Officer’s and senior management’s responsibility to identify, manage and plan for our company’s material risks, including market risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, operational risk and reputational risk. The Committee also oversees the Chief Executive Officer’s and senior management’s responsibilities with respect to our company’s capital management and liquidity planning. All Committee members are independent under the NYSE listing standards and our Categorical Standards.

 

Executive Committee. Our Executive Committee is authorized to act only on an emergency basis on matters requiring immediate approval or other action by our Board to provide for continuity in the oversight of our company’s management and must report all actions taken to the full Board no later than the next regularly scheduled meeting of our Board. The Committee currently consists of five directors, including our independent Chairman of the Board and our Chief Executive Officer.

 

Board Oversight of Risk

 

Risk is inherent in every activity that our company undertakes, and our company’s risk management policies and practices are described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our 2011 annual report on Form 10-K (our 2011 Form 10-K) starting at page 24. In choosing when and how to take risks, we evaluate our capacity for risk and seek to protect our brand and reputation, our financial flexibility, the value of our assets and the strategic potential of our company. To achieve this goal, our company has built a comprehensive risk management culture and has implemented governance and control measures to enforce that culture.

 

We maintain a governance structure that delineates the responsibilities for risk management activities, as well as governance and oversight of those activities, by management and our Board. We have a defined risk framework. Additionally, our Board has a formal process for approving our company’s articulation of its risk appetite, which is used internally to help our Board and management understand our company’s tolerance for risk in each of the major risk categories, the way those risks are measured and the key controls that influence our company’s level of risk-taking.

 

Our Board’s Audit, Credit and Enterprise Risk Committees have the principal responsibility for assisting our Board with enterprise-wide oversight of Bank of America’s management and handling of risk as follows:

 

   

Our Audit Committee assists our Board in the oversight of, among other things, the integrity of our consolidated financial statements; our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and the overall effectiveness of our system of internal controls. Our Audit Committee also, taking into consideration our Board’s allocation of the review of risk among various committees of our Board, discusses with management guidelines and policies to govern the process by which risk assessment and risk management are undertaken, including the assessment of our major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures.

 

   

Our Credit Committee oversees, among other things, the identification and management of our credit exposures on an enterprise-wide basis, our responses to trends affecting those exposures, the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses and our credit related policies.

 

   

Our Enterprise Risk Committee, among other things, oversees our identification of, management of and planning for, material risks on an enterprise-wide basis, including market risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, operational risk and reputational risk. Our Enterprise Risk Committee also oversees our capital management and liquidity planning.

 

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In addition, our Compensation and Benefits Committee oversees our company’s compensation policies and practices so that they do not encourage unnecessary and excessive risk taking by our employees. See “Compensation Governance and Risk Management” below.

 

Each of these committees regularly reports to our Board on risk-related matters within the committee’s responsibilities, which collectively provides our Board with integrated, thorough insight about our management of our enterprise-wide risks. At meetings of each Board committee and our Board, directors receive updates from management regarding enterprise risk management, including our performance against our risk appetite. Our Board leadership structure is consistent with our approach to risk oversight, as our Chief Executive Officer is involved directly in risk management as a member of our management team, while our independent Chairman maintains an oversight role as part of the non-management directors of our Board.

 

Compensation Governance and Risk Management

 

Compensation Governance. Our Compensation and Benefits Committee actively engages in its duties and follows procedures intended to promote excellence in the governance of our pay-for-performance philosophy. The Committee regularly reviews: (i) company performance; (ii) executive compensation strategy, approach, trends and regulatory developments; and (iii) other topics as appropriate. Throughout the year, the Committee reviews each executive officer’s total compensation package, including base salary, cash and equity-based incentive awards, accumulated realized and unrealized stock option and restricted stock gains, qualified and nonqualified retirement and deferred compensation benefit accruals and the incremental cost to our company of all perquisites. The Committee uses, and makes available to the full Board, an executive compensation statement, or “tally sheet,” for each executive officer for this purpose. The Committee uses this tool to make sure it evaluates all elements of executive officer compensation and benefits when making compensation decisions. Annually, the Committee reviews its compensation decisions for all of the Chief Executive Officer’s management direct reports, and for other executive officers, with our Board, including all cash and equity-based awards.

 

Our executive officers are generally not engaged directly with the Committee in setting the amount or form of executive officer or director compensation. However, as part of the annual performance review for our executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer, the Committee considers the Chief Executive Officer’s perspective on each executive officer’s individual performance and compensation as well as the performance of our various business segments and lines of business. In addition, the Committee considers the performance feedback from our company’s independent control functions in assessing line of business and each executive officer’s individual performance.

 

The Committee has the sole authority and responsibility under its charter to approve the engagement of any compensation consultant it uses and the fees for those services. The Committee retained Cook as its independent compensation consultant for 2011. Cook’s business is limited to providing independent executive and director compensation consulting services to its clients. Cook does not provide any other management or human resources-related services to our company. Throughout the period the Committee has engaged Cook’s services, Cook has not received any other work or payment from our company. For 2011, Cook assisted the Committee by providing external market and performance comparisons, advising the Committee on executive, Chief Executive Officer and director compensation, and assisting with other executive and director compensation-related matters from time to time.

 

In addition, the Committee may delegate to management certain of its duties and responsibilities, including the adoption, amendment, modification or termination of benefit plans. Significant delegations made by the Committee include delegation of authority to (1) the Management Compensation Committee to direct the compensation for all of our employees and officers except for our Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Executive Officer’s direct reports and other executive officers, and (2) the Management Corporate Benefits Committee to oversee substantially all of our employee benefit plans.

 

The Committee also reviews the form and amount of compensation paid to our non-management directors from time to time. The Committee recommends any changes to director compensation to our Board for approval.

 

Compensation Risk Management Policies and Practices. We believe that Bank of America applies prudent risk management practices to its incentive compensation programs across the enterprise. Our Compensation and Benefits Committee is committed to a compensation governance structure that effectively contributes to our company’s broader risk management policies.

 

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During 2010, the Committee formally adopted our Compensation Governance Policy to govern our incentive compensation decisions and define the framework for oversight of the design of incentive compensation programs across our company. The Committee reviews and assesses the effectiveness of our Compensation Governance Policy annually and adopts updates as appropriate, most recently in January 2012. The Compensation Governance Policy is designed to be consistent with global regulatory initiatives so that our incentive compensation plans do not encourage imprudent risk-taking. It specifically addresses the following:

 

   

The definition and process for identification of “risk-taking” employees;

 

   

The process and policies for the design and governance of incentive compensation plans to appropriately balance risks with compensation outcomes, including:

 

  O   

The funding of incentive compensation pools,

 

  O   

The determination of individual incentive compensation awards, and

 

  O   

The use of discretion as part of those processes;

 

   

Policies on the effectiveness of incentive compensation plans through testing and monitoring at the right level to confirm they appropriately balance risks with compensation outcomes, including the development of processes to administer clawback features of incentive compensation awards; and

 

   

Policies providing for the independence of our company’s “independent control functions” (audit, finance, global human resources, compliance, legal and risk) as well as appropriate input from those independent control functions to the Committee.

 

Our compensation governance structure allocates oversight, review and responsibility to the appropriate level within our company so that the most relevant level of management or our Board, as applicable, makes compensation decisions, with documented input from the independent control functions. We have the following four levels of governance, each with identified roles and responsibilities in our compensation decisions: (i) our Board, (ii) our Compensation and Benefits Committee, (iii) our Management Compensation Committee and (iv) our Line of Business Compensation Committees.

 

Consistent with our Compensation Governance Policy, we conduct a comprehensive review, analysis and discussion of incentive design and operation annually through our incentive plan certification and review process. In support of this process, each of the Chief Executive Officer’s management direct reports, along with their management teams and independent control functions, meet throughout the year to discuss business strategy, performance and risk with respect to compensation. These participants in the process certify that their respective incentive programs (i) are aligned with line of business and our company’s business strategy and performance objectives, (ii) do not encourage excessive risk-taking beyond our company’s ability to effectively identify and manage risk and (iii) are compatible with effective controls and risk management. The Committee also meets with senior risk officers, including our Chief Risk Officer, to review and assess any risks posed by our incentive compensation programs so that they appropriately balance risks and rewards in a manner that does not encourage imprudent risk-taking. These management certifications are reviewed by Cook and shared and reviewed with the Committee.

 

For performance year 2011, the Committee also reviewed individual incentive compensation awards for certain top paid employees beyond the Chief Executive Officer’s management direct reports and other executive officers, as well as aggregate information about awards to other groups of employees. In addition, the Committee met with the heads of each of our independent control functions and our Co-Chief Operating Officers to receive their feedback before making its 2011 incentive compensation decisions.

 

As a result of these reviews, and in combination with the risk management and clawback features of our compensation programs, we believe that our compensation policies and practices appropriately balance risks and rewards in a way that does not encourage imprudent risk-taking and does not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our company.

 

Chief Executive Officer and Senior Management Succession Planning

 

Our Board, with the assistance of our Corporate Governance Committee, oversees Chief Executive Officer and senior management succession planning. As part of the Chief Executive Officer continuity succession planning, our Chief Executive Officer, in coordination with our Global Head of Human Resources, periodically provides recommendations

 

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and evaluations to our Corporate Governance Committee of potential successors to the Chief Executive Officer position, including a review of any development plans recommended for such individuals. Our Corporate Governance Committee reports on its succession planning efforts to the full Board, and the full Board reviews succession planning at least annually at a regularly scheduled Board meeting. Our Board reviews potential internal candidates with our Chief Executive Officer and our Global Head of Human Resources, and other members of senior management as our Board considers appropriate, which review includes development needs, creation of development programs and developmental progress with respect to specific individuals. Directors engage with potential internal candidates at Board and committee meetings and periodically in less formal settings to allow personal assessment of candidates by our directors. Further, our Board periodically reviews the overall composition of the qualifications, tenure and experience of our senior management.

 

As set forth in our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Board, in coordination with the Committee, also sees that our company has in place appropriate steps to address emergency Chief Executive Officer and executive officer succession planning in the event of extraordinary circumstances. Our emergency Chief Executive Officer succession planning enables our company to respond to an unexpected vacancy in the Chief Executive Officer position while continuing the safe and sound operation of our company and minimizing any potential disruption or loss of continuity to our company’s business and operations, including in the case of a major catastrophe.

 

Board Executive Sessions

 

Our non-management directors meet in executive session at each regularly scheduled Board meeting. Separately, our independent directors meet in executive session at least once a year. These executive sessions are led by Mr. Holliday, our independent Chairman of the Board.

 

Board Evaluation and Education

 

Each year, our Board and our Audit, Compensation and Benefits, Corporate Governance, Credit and Enterprise Risk Committees evaluate their effectiveness. Our Board views self-evaluation as an ongoing process designed to achieve high levels of Board and committee performance.

 

During 2011, our Board encouraged directors to participate in periodic telephonic Board information sessions. During these sessions, which were conducted by our Chief Executive Officer, directors received business updates from senior management, risk executives and our General Counsel. Eight information sessions were held in 2011.

 

Our Board also encourages directors to participate in continuing director education programs and our company reimburses directors for the expenses of this participation. All new directors also participate in our director orientation program in their first six months as a director.

 

Political Contributions

 

We are committed to participation in the political process through our political contribution and charitable giving programs in a manner that is consistent with solid corporate governance practices and in compliance with legal requirements. Information regarding our policy on political contributions and activities and our Political Contribution Report can be found on our website at http://investor.bankofamerica.com.

 

Communications with our Board

 

Our Board has established a process for stockholders and other parties to communicate with our Board, any director (including our Chairman of the Board), non-management members of our Board as a group or any committee. To do so, you may send a letter addressed to Attention: Corporate Secretary, Bank of America Corporation, Hearst Tower, 214 North Tryon Street, NC1-027-20-05, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255. For further information, refer to the “Contact the Board” section on our website at http://investor.bankofamerica.com. All communications will be kept confidential. Depending on the nature of the communication, either the correspondence will be forwarded to the director(s) named or the matter will be presented in a periodic report to the Board. Items that are not from stockholders or are unrelated to a director’s duties and responsibilities as a Board member may be excluded by the Corporate Secretary, including, without limitation, solicitations and advertisements; junk mail; product-related communications; routine customer complaints; job referral materials such as resumes and surveys; and material that is determined to be illegal or otherwise inappropriate.

 

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Additional Corporate Governance Information Available

 

More information about our corporate governance practices can be found on our website at http://investor.bankofamerica.com under the heading “Corporate Governance,” including our: (i) Certificate of Incorporation; (ii) Bylaws; (iii) Corporate Governance Guidelines (including our Related Person Transactions Policy); (iv) Code of Ethics and related materials; (v) composition of each of our Board committees, including the committee charters; and (vi) Categorical Standards. This information is also available in print, free of charge upon written request addressed to: Attention: Corporate Secretary, Bank of America Corporation, Hearst Tower, 214 North Tryon Street, NC1-027-20-05, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255.

 

Director Compensation

 

Our director compensation program is designed to compensate our non-management directors appropriately for the time and effort required to serve as a director of a large, complex and highly regulated global company and to align our directors’ interests with the long-term interests of our stockholders.

 

The primary elements of annual compensation for our non-management directors are:

 

   

cash award of $80,000 ($167,000 for the independent Chairman of the Board);

 

   

restricted stock award of $160,000 ($333,000 for the independent Chairman of the Board); and

 

   

cash retainer of $30,000 for the chairman of the Audit Committee and $20,000 for the chairman of each of the Compensation and Benefits, Corporate Governance, Credit and Enterprise Risk Committees.

 

Non-management directors who begin their Board service or committee chairmanship mid-year receive a pro-rated amount of annual compensation.

 

We grant the annual restricted stock award under the Bank of America Corporation Directors’ Stock Plan. The award is subject to a one-year vesting requirement. Dividends are paid on the award at the same time as dividends are paid on shares of our common stock. The number of shares awarded equals the dollar value of the award divided by the closing price of our common stock on the grant date, rounded down to the next whole share, with cash payable for any fractional share. If a director retires before the one-year vesting date, a pro-rated amount of the award vests based on the number of days the director served during the vesting period before retirement. Any unvested amount of the award is forfeited.

 

Non-management directors can elect to defer all or part of their cash or equity compensation through the Bank of America Corporation Director Deferral Plan. If a director elects to defer the annual restricted stock award, we credit a “stock account” with a number of whole and fractional “stock units” of equal value. Each stock unit has the same value as a share of our common stock. These stock units are subject to the same one-year vesting requirement that applies under the Directors’ Stock Plan. Directors also can choose to defer their annual cash award, as well as any committee chairman retainers, into the stock account or a “cash account.” We credit the stock account with dividend equivalents in the form of additional stock units and credit the cash account with interest at a long-term bond rate. Following retirement from our Board, a non-management director receives the balances of his or her stock account (to the extent vested) and cash account in a single lump sum cash payment or in 5 or 10 annual cash installments per the director’s prior election. Because stock units are not actual shares of our common stock, they do not have any voting rights.

 

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During 2011, Mr. Moynihan was our sole management director, and he does not receive any compensation for his services as a director. The following table shows the compensation we awarded our non-management directors for their services in 2011:

 

2011 Director Compensation

 

Director   Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash
($) (1)
    Stock
Awards
($) (2)
   

All Other
Compensation

($)

    Total
($)
 

Mukesh D. Ambani (3)

    92,282        184,534        0        276,816   

Susan S. Bies

    80,000        160,000        0        240,000   

William P. Boardman (retired)

    0        0        0        0   

Frank P. Bramble, Sr.

    100,000        160,000        0        260,000   

Virgis W. Colbert

    80,000        160,000        0        240,000   

Charles K. Gifford (4)

    100,000        160,000        257,190        517,190   

Charles O. Holliday, Jr.

    167,000        333,000        0        500,000   

D. Paul Jones, Jr.

    80,000        160,000        0        240,000   

Monica C. Lozano

    80,000        160,000        0        240,000   

Thomas J. May

    100,000        160,000        0        260,000   

Donald E. Powell (5)

    80,000        160,000        75,000        315,000   

Charles O. Rossotti

    110,000        160,000        0        270,000   

Robert W. Scully

    100,000        160,000        0        260,000   

(1)   The amounts in this column represent the annual cash award plus any committee chairman cash retainers for 2011, including amounts deferred under the Director Deferral Plan. The following table shows the number of stock units credited to our non-management directors under the Director Deferral Plan for deferrals of 2011 cash compensation and the grant date fair value of those stock units based on the closing price of our common stock on the applicable date of deferral:

 

Director  

Stock Units

(#)

   

Grant Date
Fair Value

($)

 

Thomas J. May

    8,163.27        100,000   

Donald E. Powell

    3,265.31        40,000   

Charles O. Rossotti

    8,979.59        110,000   

 

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(2)   The amounts in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock awards granted during 2011, whether or not those awards were deferred under the Director Deferral Plan. The grant date fair value was based on the closing price of our common stock on the applicable grant date. There are no unexercised stock options held by our directors. As of December 31, 2011, our non-management directors held the following number of unvested shares of restricted stock or unvested stock units:

 

Director  

Unvested

Shares of
Restricted Stock or
Stock Units
(#)

 

Mukesh D. Ambani

    13,061         

Susan S. Bies

    13,061         

William P. Boardman (retired)

    0         

Frank P. Bramble, Sr.

    13,061         

Virgis W. Colbert

    13,061         

Charles K. Gifford

    13,061         

Charles O. Holliday, Jr.

    27,183         

D. Paul Jones, Jr.

    13,061         

Monica C. Lozano

    13,061         

Thomas J. May

    13,061         

Donald E. Powell

    13,061         

Charles O. Rossotti

    13,061         

Robert W. Scully

    13,061         

 

(3)   Mr. Ambani was appointed to the Board in March 2011. The amounts for Mr. Ambani include pro-rated awards for his period of service prior to our 2011 annual meeting. In addition, the grant, vesting and settlement of the regular annual restricted stock award granted to Mr. Ambani in May 2011 are conditioned on the receipt of any necessary Indian regulatory approval.

 

(4)   Mr. Gifford receives office space and secretarial support, which for 2011 had an aggregate incremental cost to our company of $257,190, and we expect that he will continue to receive such perquisites in the future.

 

(5)   Mr. Powell serves as a non-management director of Merrill Lynch International, a United Kingdom subsidiary of Bank of America. Non-management directors serving on this subsidiary’s board of directors receive an annual cash retainer in the amount of $75,000.

 

Stock Ownership and Retention Requirements for Directors. We have formal stock ownership requirements that apply to our non-management directors. Under these requirements, each non-management director is required to hold and cannot sell the restricted stock they receive as compensation (except as necessary to pay taxes upon vesting) until termination of their service. All non-management directors are in compliance with our requirements.

 

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Review of Related Person and Certain Other Transactions

 

Our Related Person Transactions Policy, in our Corporate Governance Guidelines, sets forth our policies and procedures for the review, approval or ratification of any transaction with related persons (directors, director nominees, executive officers, stockholders holding 5% or more of our voting securities or any of their immediate family members). Our policy covers any transactions where the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 in any fiscal year, our company is a participant and a related person has or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

 

On a semi-annual basis, each of our company’s directors and executive officers is required to complete a questionnaire that requests information regarding our directors and executive officers, their immediate family members and their transactions or relationships with our company. Our Legal and Compliance departments conduct a review to determine if there are any transactions subject to our policy that have not previously been approved or ratified by the Corporate Governance Committee. Each of our company’s directors and executive officers is required to promptly notify the Office of the Corporate Secretary of any change to information in his or her previously completed questionnaires for further review by the Legal and Compliance departments and, where appropriate, by the Committee.

 

The Corporate Governance Committee must approve or ratify any related person transactions, and when doing so, considers the nature of the related person’s interest in the transaction; whether the transaction involves arms-length bids or market prices and terms; the materiality of the transaction to each party; the availability of the product or services through other sources; whether our company’s Code of Ethics could be violated or our company’s reputation put at risk; whether the transaction would impair the judgment of a director or executive officer to act in the best interest of our company; the acceptability of the transaction to our company’s regulators; and in the case of a non-management director, whether the transaction would impair his or her independence or status as an “outside” or “non-management” director.

 

Our Board has determined that certain types of transactions do not create or involve a direct or indirect material interest on the part of the related person and therefore do not require review or approval under the policy. These include transactions involving financial services, including brokerage services, banking services, loans, insurance services and other financial services provided by our company to any related person, so long as the services are provided in the ordinary course of business, on substantially the same terms as those prevailing at the time for comparable services provided to non-affiliates and in compliance with applicable law, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Federal Reserve Board Regulation O.

 

A number of our directors and executive officers, their family members and certain business organizations associated with them are or have been customers of our banking subsidiaries. All extensions of credit to these persons have been made in the ordinary course of business on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time in comparable transactions with persons not related to Bank of America and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability. Other than the aircraft time sharing agreement between Mr. Moynihan and our company disclosed in our 2011 proxy statement and approved by our Corporate Governance Committee in December 2010, we are not aware of any related person transactions since the beginning of 2011.

 

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Proposal 2: An Advisory (Non-Binding) “Say on Pay” Vote to Approve Executive Compensation

 

Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), added by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Financial Reform Act), provides our stockholders with an advisory say on pay vote to approve our executive compensation at least every three years. At our 2011 annual meeting of stockholders, a majority of stockholders voted in favor of having a say on pay vote each year, consistent with the recommendation of our Board. After consideration of these results, we have decided that we will hold future advisory votes on executive compensation each year until the next advisory vote on frequency occurs. Under this policy, we are including this advisory say on pay proposal in our 2012 proxy statement and the next advisory vote to approve executive compensation will be held in 2013. We are required under the Financial Reform Act to hold an advisory vote on frequency at least every six years.

 

Although the say on pay vote is advisory and is not binding on our Board, the Compensation and Benefits Committee will take into consideration the outcome of the vote when making future executive compensation decisions.

 

This advisory say on pay vote gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their views on the compensation of our named executive officers. Our Board believes that our current executive compensation program appropriately links compensation realized by our executives to our performance and properly aligns the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders. For example:

 

   

For 2011, the Compensation and Benefits Committee applied our pay-for-performance philosophy and followed our compensation principles in deciding to make year-end compensation awards to our named executive officers.

 

  O   

The Committee decided that our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Moynihan, should receive total compensation of $7 million, including no annual cash incentive and the majority of his incentive in the form of performance contingent restricted stock units tied to our future achievement of specific return on assets goals.

 

  O   

The Committee’s compensation decisions for our other named executive officers varied based on its evaluation of company and line of business performance as well as the manner in which each of the named executive officers achieved results consistent with our operating principles and within our risk framework. These named executive officers received an annual cash incentive award within the stockholder-approved limits of our Executive Incentive Compensation Plan for performance year 2011.

 

  O   

In addition, the majority of 2011 incentives for our named executive officers continue to be earned and paid over time (including based on our future achievement of return on assets goals) in order to focus our named executive officers on the long-term performance of our company.

 

   

We do not have any agreements with our executive officers that provide for cash severance payments upon termination of employment or in connection with a change in control.

 

   

We have a policy that prohibits future employment or severance agreements with executive officers that provide severance benefits exceeding two times base salary and bonus unless approved by our stockholders.

 

   

Our executive officers do not accrue additional retirement benefits under any supplemental executive retirement plan.

 

   

We have responsible stock ownership requirements that apply to our executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer. In 2011, the Board amended the stock ownership requirements for our executive officers to require (a) the Chief Executive Officer to hold at least 500,000 shares of our common stock and retain at least 50% of the net after-tax shares from future equity awards until retirement and (b) our other executive officers to hold at least 300,000 shares of our common stock and retain at least 50% of the net after-tax shares from future equity awards until the increased ownership guideline is achieved. New executive officers have up to five years to meet these requirements.

 

   

Our named executive officers are subject to multiple clawback requirements:

 

  O   

Since performance year 2009, equity awards to our executive officers are subject to a “performance-based clawback” to encourage sustainable profitability over the vesting period. If during the vesting period our company or the executive officer’s line of business (if applicable) experiences a loss, the Compensation and Benefits Committee will assess the executive officer’s accountability for the loss. This assessment will take into

 

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account factors such as the magnitude of the loss, the executive officer’s decisions that may have led to the loss, the executive officer’s overall performance and other factors. Based on this assessment, all or part of the award may be canceled.

 

  O   

Since performance year 2009, equity awards are subject to a detrimental conduct clawback to encourage compliance with policies and appropriate behaviors. If an executive officer engages in detrimental conduct, unvested awards are subject to cancellation and previously vested awards may be recouped.

 

  O   

Since October 2007, we have had a recoupment policy under which our Board can require reimbursement of any incentive compensation paid to an executive officer whose fraud or intentional misconduct causes our company to restate its financial statements.

 

See pages 20 to 48 of this proxy statement for more information on these elements of our executive compensation program.

 

For these reasons, the Board recommends that our stockholders vote in favor of the following resolution:

 

“Resolved, that our stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables, and any related material disclosed in this proxy statement.”

 

The Board recommends a vote “FOR” approval of this resolution (Proposal 2).

 

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Compensation and Benefits Committee Report

 

The Compensation and Benefits Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis that immediately follows this report. Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation and Benefits Committee has recommended to our Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and incorporated by reference into our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Submitted by the Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Board:

 

Robert W. Scully, Chairman

Mukesh D. Ambani

Virgis W. Colbert

Donald E. Powell

 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

Our Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the key features of our executive compensation program and the approach taken by the Compensation and Benefits Committee in setting 2011 compensation for the following named executive officers:

 

   

Brian T. Moynihan, Chief Executive Officer;

 

   

Bruce R. Thompson, Chief Financial Officer;

 

   

Charles H. Noski, Vice Chairman (also Chief Financial Officer during part of 2011);

 

   

David C. Darnell, Co-Chief Operating Officer;

 

   

Gary G. Lynch, Global Head of Legal, Compliance and Regulatory Relations; and

 

   

Thomas K. Montag, Co-Chief Operating Officer.

 

Mr. Darnell and Mr. Montag were appointed to the newly created positions of Co-Chief Operating Officers in September 2011. Prior to that time, Mr. Darnell was President of our Global Commercial Banking business and Mr. Montag was President of our Global Banking and Markets business. In addition, Mr. Thompson assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer in June 2011, having served as our Chief Risk Officer. Mr. Noski served as Chief Financial Officer until June 2011, after which he assumed the role of Vice Chairman. Mr. Lynch joined our company during July 2011 as Global Chief of Legal, Compliance and Regulatory Relations.

 

Executive Summary

 

Our executive compensation program ties pay for our executives to the performance of our company, its lines of business and each individual executive officer over the short and long-term. In addition, consistent with our compensation principles, our executive compensation program provides a mix of salary, benefits and incentives paid over time that we believe properly aligns the interests of our executive officers with the interests of our stockholders. We also take into account the manner in which results are achieved, including an evaluation of adherence to risk and compliance policies and other core values of our company. We continually evaluate our compensation policies and practices in light of ongoing developments and best practices in the area of incentive compensation.

 

Management’s Assessment of 2011 Performance

 

During 2011, our company continued to execute on our comprehensive three-year strategic plan, simplifying and streamlining our company, strengthening our balance sheet and building capital while managing through the slow-growth low interest rate environment. In addition, we have demonstrated focus on our customer-driven strategy and making our business more efficient and effective through our enterprise-wide Project New BAC initiative, which aligns our work to our three core customer groups: individuals, companies and institutional investors. During 2011, our senior management team strengthened the solid foundation of our company with a focus on long-term sustainable growth. Following is a summary of some of our company’s key accomplishments in 2011:

 

   

We reported net income of $1.4 billion, or $0.01 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $2.2 billion, or $0.37 per diluted share in 2010.

 

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We continued to focus on our customer-driven businesses. Our company extended approximately $557 billion in credit and raised $644 billion in capital for clients during 2011.

 

   

We continued to build capital and strengthen our balance sheet. Regulatory capital ratios increased significantly, with Tier 1 common equity ratio increasing to 9.86% in the fourth quarter of 2011, up 126 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2010.

 

   

We substantially improved our funding position by increasing overall liquidity and reducing debt. Global excess liquidity sources remained strong at $378 billion at the end of 2011, up $42 billion from December 31, 2010.

 

   

We continued to focus on strengthening our risk culture in 2011, driving accountability more deeply into the company, and simplifying the organization by selling non-core assets and businesses.

 

   

In 2011, we generated $34 billion in proceeds from the sale of non-core assets and businesses, generating 79 basis points of Tier 1 common equity and reducing risk-weighted assets by $29 billion.

 

   

Our Investment Bank maintained its No. 2 global ranking in net investment banking fees and gained market share in 2011 as reported by Dealogic.

 

   

Bank of America Merrill Lynch was named “Top Global Research Firm of 2011” by Institutional Investor.

 

   

We continued to make progress addressing legacy issues.

 

Our 2011 Compensation Decisions

 

Consistent with our pay-for-performance philosophy, our Compensation and Benefits Committee made its 2011 compensation decisions based on its review of performance on a year-over-year basis. The Committee considered our company’s overall financial results, including net income reported for 2011 compared to a net loss in 2010. The Committee recognized that our company’s total stockholder return has lagged the total stockholder return of key competitors over one- and multi-year periods.

 

For our named executive officers heading lines of business, the Committee also reviewed the contributions of those lines of business to our overall company performance with a focus on accountability for risk management. The Committee focused on the individual performance of named executive officers against financial and non-financial performance goals and changes in our executives’ roles and responsibilities during the year as a result of the restructuring of our company under Project New BAC.

 

Based on its evaluation of 2011 performance, the Committee made the following 2011 compensation decisions for our named executive officers using an appropriately balanced mix of award types, similar to the types of awards made for 2010.

 

   

For Mr. Moynihan, our Chief Executive Officer, the Committee determined compensation in recognition of his individual performance and the overall performance of our company.

 

  O   

No annual cash incentive for 2011. Similarly, Mr. Moynihan did not receive any annual cash incentive award for performance years 2009 or 2010.

 

  O   

Total salary and incentive compensation for 2011 of $7 million. Over 85% of Mr. Moynihan’s total compensation for 2011 is in the form of equity-linked awards.

 

  O   

The majority of Mr. Moynihan’s variable incentive compensation was awarded in the form of performance contingent restricted stock units tied to our future achievement of specific performance goals based on our return on assets.

 

   

For our other named executive officers, the Committee’s compensation decisions for 2011 varied based on its evaluation of individual performance, which in each case met or exceeded expectations, and in light of overall company and line of business performance.

 

  O   

Each of our other named executive officers received an annual cash incentive award within the stockholder-approved limits of our Executive Incentive Compensation (EIC) Plan for performance year 2011 based on our reported 2011 net income of $1.4 billion.

 

  O   

The majority of 2011 incentives for our other named executive officers also continue to be earned and paid over time (including based on our future achievement of return on assets goals) in order to focus our named executive officers on the long-term performance of our company.

 

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Overview of Our Executive Compensation Program

 

Total Compensation. The total direct compensation for each of our executive officers is comprised of the executive’s base salary and an incentive opportunity. Consistent with our pay-for-performance philosophy, we believe that our executive officers should be able to provide for their retirement needs from the compensation they earn based on our performance. As a result, our current executive officers do not accrue additional retirement benefits under any supplemental executive retirement plans.

 

Base Salary. Base salary is designed to provide a level of predictable income. The Compensation and Benefits Committee establishes the base salary levels for our executive officers to be part of a competitive total compensation package.

 

Incentive Opportunity. The primary compensation element for our executive officers is an incentive opportunity that is designed to balance both near-term and longer-term results by providing year-end incentive award opportunities based on our financial performance as well as non-financial measures and other factors.

 

   

The Committee determines the year-end incentive awards based on its evaluation of performance without assigning weightings to any particular factors or metrics considered. The Committee reviews the performance of our company, lines of business and individual executive officers as well as other factors such as quality and sustainability of earnings, successful implementation of strategic initiatives and adherence to risk and compliance policies and other core values of our company. Compensation decisions are made consistent with our company’s pay-for-performance philosophy, which takes into account both results and how those results were achieved. Our approach relies on decisions based on judgment using a principles-based framework of review that considers multiple key performance metrics, without formulas or weightings. Financial performance plays a key, but not exclusive, role in this review.

 

   

The Committee believes that stock ownership is the most effective way to align the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders and focus our executive team on delivering sustainable returns to our stockholders over time. The Committee uses a balanced mix of fixed and variable compensation with a significant portion of total variable compensation delivered in the form of equity-based awards. Generally, approximately 70% of the total incentive opportunity for our Chief Executive Officer and approximately 60% of the total incentive opportunity for our other named executive officers is in the form of equity-based awards. Equity awards may include any combination of time-vesting restricted stock, performance-vesting restricted stock, stock options or other equity-based compensation. The Committee establishes vesting and other conditions for equity awards to encourage a long-term focus on generating sustainable results. Our 2003 Key Associate Stock Plan (Stock Plan) provides that stock-settled awards that vest solely on the basis of passage of time shall not vest more quickly than ratably over a three-year period. In addition, the Stock Plan requires a one-year minimum performance period for awards that vest based on performance.

 

   

The Committee considers the types of equity awards to make from a portfolio of award types. The types of awards used each year depend on our specific circumstances and the Committee’s view of what best supports our strategic goals and is aligned with sound risk management practices. The combination of delivering a significant amount of annual pay in the form of stock awards combined with stock ownership and retention requirements balances the goals of encouraging sustainable results over time and rewarding those results with appropriate levels of realized compensation. We use long-term equity awards that vest and pay over time to align our executive officers’ interests with the interests of our stockholders. Our significant stock ownership requirements further enhance this alignment. See “Other Pay-for-Performance Features of Our Program” below.

 

Compensation Risk Management. The Committee believes that the design and governance of our executive compensation program is consistent with the highest standards of risk management. The design of our executive compensation program supports our risk management goals through a set of checks and balances, including (1) a balanced mix of base and variable pay, (2) a balanced use of performance measures that are risk-adjusted where appropriate and combined with management judgment, (3) a pay-for-performance process that allocates individual awards based on both results and how those results were achieved, (4) deferral of a significant portion of variable pay, in equity-based awards where appropriate, to encourage retention and alignment with shareholder interests and (5) use of clawback features for all recipients of equity-based awards to further encourage achievement of long-term, sustainable results in an appropriate manner. The “Compensation Governance and Risk Management” section beginning on page 11 contains more information about our Compensation Governance Policy, our compensation risk management practices and the extent to which our executive officers participate in setting the amount or form of executive officer and director compensation.

 

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Clawback Features. Beginning with performance year 2009, equity awards to executive officers are subject to multiple separate and distinct “clawback” requirements that can result in the awards being canceled or prior payments recouped. These clawback requirements work together so that rewards realized over time appropriately reflect the time horizon of the risks taken and encourage proper conduct.

 

   

Approximately 27,000 of our employees who received a percentage of their compensation for 2011 in equity-based awards that vest over time are subject to our detrimental conduct clawback requirement. In addition, more than 4,400 of those employees also are subject to our performance-based clawback requirement.

 

   

Our clawback requirements are as follows:

 

  O   

Equity awards granted to certain employees, including our executive officers, are subject to a “performance-based clawback” to encourage sustainable profitability. If during the vesting period our company or the employee’s line of business (if applicable) experiences a loss, the Committee will assess the employee’s accountability for the loss. This assessment will take into account factors such as the magnitude of the loss, the employee’s decisions that may have led to the loss, the employee’s overall performance and other factors. Based on this assessment, the Committee may determine to cancel all or part of the award.

 

  O   

All equity awards also are subject to a “detrimental conduct clawback.” If an employee engages in certain “detrimental conduct” (which is defined in detail in award agreements but generally refers to serious misconduct in the performance of duties) the equity award will be canceled to the extent not yet vested. In addition, equity awards granted to our employees authorize our company to reduce or recover from the awards any losses if it is determined that the employee has engaged in detrimental conduct.

 

  O   

We have an Incentive Compensation Recoupment Policy covering all of our executive officers and under which our Board can require reimbursement of any incentive compensation paid to an executive officer whose fraud or intentional misconduct causes our company to restate its financial statements. This Policy goes beyond the clawback requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that are limited to our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The Board or an appropriate Board committee will take, in its sole discretion, action it determines necessary under the policy to remedy the misconduct and prevent its recurrence. The Board or committee may recover the amount of compensation paid or awarded that exceeds any lower amount that would have been paid or awarded based on the restated financial results, including through reimbursement of any bonus or incentive compensation awarded or cancellation of any unvested restricted stock or outstanding stock option awards.

 

  O   

In addition, we will fully comply with the Financial Reform Act clawback requirements following the issuance of final rules and regulations.

 

Consideration of Stockholder Say on Pay Votes. Our company provides its stockholders with the opportunity to cast an annual advisory say on pay vote to approve executive compensation. At our company’s 2011 annual meeting of stockholders, approximately 93% of the votes cast on our company’s say on pay proposal at that meeting were voted in favor of the proposal. The Committee believes this affirms our stockholders’ support of our company’s executive compensation program, including our pay-for-performance philosophy and, therefore, the Committee did not change its approach in 2011. The Committee will continue to consider the outcome of our company’s advisory say on pay votes when making future compensation decisions for our named executive officers.

 

Our Compensation and Benefits Committee’s Review of Performance

 

During January 2012, the Committee evaluated the performance of our company, lines of business and each of our named executive officers. The Committee considered the following as key to its compensation decisions:

 

   

Company and Line of Business Performance. The Committee evaluated our company’s 2011 performance on a year-over-year basis taking into account a combination of our financial performance and non-financial measures and other factors, which the Committee believes collectively best indicate successful management of our business. The Committee also considered performance of our company and lines of business against our strategic plan and operating principles for 2011. Our senior management team has continued to make progress against those goals in order to position our company for long-term growth, including focusing on our customer-driven businesses, increasing capital, strengthening our balance sheet and managing our overall liquidity position.

 

  O   

Financial and Non-Financial Performance. In general, with respect to our company’s financial performance and performance relative to various risk metrics, the Committee reviewed our strong and improved capital and

 

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liquidity positions, continued decline in risk-weighted assets, and results from the sale of non-core businesses and assets. The Committee also reviewed our company’s and each line of business’ financial performance relative to key financial metrics including net income, earnings per share, return on equity, return on tangible common equity and return on assets. The Committee recognized that our company’s total stockholder return has lagged the total stockholder return of key competitors over one and multi-year periods. For 2011, the Committee considered our company’s financial results, including the impact of legacy mortgage-related charges, among other things. The Committee felt it was appropriate to consider financial performance results for 2011 excluding such charges because they continued to result primarily from business decisions made a number of years ago by a prior management team. The Committee also considered the fact that, including such charges during 2011, our company reported net income of $1.4 billion.

 

Following are certain key performance highlights reviewed by the Committee for each line of business:

 

    For our Consumer and Small Business Banking businesses, each delivered solid performance in a challenging but improving economic environment. Net income for the Deposits and Card Services segments for 2011 was $1.2 billion and $5.8 billion, respectively. Deposits net income decreased $170 million year over year, while Card Services net income increased $12.8 billion compared to 2010 due primarily to the absence of the non-cash goodwill impairment charge recognized in 2010 and a decrease in the provision for credit losses.

 

    For our Consumer Real Estate Services business, our company funded $151.8 billion in residential home loans and $4.4 billion in home equity loans in 2011. Consumer Real Estate Services’ net loss increased compared to 2010 primarily due to a decline in revenue and an increase in noninterest expense, though our company continued to make progress on legacy issues.

 

    For our Global Commercial Banking business, performance against certain key financial measures such as net income, return on equity and return on tangible equity were each favorable compared to 2010 results. Global Commercial Banking reported net income of $4.4 billion, an increase of approximately $1.2 billion.

 

    For our Global Wealth and Investment Management business, net income increased $295 million, or 22%, to $1.6 billion in 2011 compared to 2010, which was attributable in large part to higher average deposit balances.

 

    For our Global Banking and Markets business, our company reported net income and revenue for 2011 of $3.0 billion and $23.6 billion, respectively, reflecting a decline of $4.2 billion in sales and trading revenue compared to 2010 due to a challenging market environment. Global Corporate Banking revenue of $5.5 billion for 2011 remained in line with 2010.

 

  O   

Challenging Economic Factors Affecting our Company and Lines of Business. The Committee also considered external factors that affected both company and line of business performance. These external factors included the continuing challenges presented by the economy, such as the low interest environment, high unemployment rates, global economic crises, depressed housing prices, weak market conditions and continuing regulatory impacts on our businesses. Our named executive officers managed our company and our businesses through this challenging environment while focusing on our three core customer groups and strengthening our industry positions. In addition, we continued our work to address legacy issues in order to position our new company for the future with a focus on sustainable, long-term performance.

 

  O   

Accountability for Driving our Risk Management Culture. The Committee continued to consider the accountability of our named executive officers for bolstering our strong risk management culture as well as our company’s year-over-year performance relative to various risk metrics established for 2011 consistent with our risk appetite and risk framework. Specifically, the Committee evaluated our businesses based on our improved risk-based capital ratios, funding position, risk management in our consumer and commercial loan portfolios, and various market risk indicators.

 

   

Individual Performance. For the 2011 performance year, the Committee, and also our Board for our Chief Executive Officer, assessed the leadership, contributions and accountability of our Chief Executive Officer and other named executive officers in the following areas in line with our operating principles and our company’s core values: developing a customer-driven enterprise, pursuing operational excellence in both efficiency and risk

 

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management, strengthening our balance sheet, creating sustainable stockholder value, cleaning up legacy issues, and further developing employee retention and engagement. In addition, the Committee considered the performance feedback from our company’s independent control functions in assessing line of business and each named executive officer’s individual performance.

 

  O   

CEO Performance. For 2011, the Committee considered Mr. Moynihan’s leadership and execution against our company’s strategic plan, in light of the challenges facing our industry and lines of business. Mr. Moynihan received no annual cash incentive for performance year 2011 (and similarly received no annual cash incentive for performance years 2009 and 2010). In addition, the Committee awarded the majority of his incentive compensation for 2011 in the form of performance contingent restricted stock units that he must earn based on our company’s future achievement of specific performance goals based on our return on assets. The accomplishments the Committee, and our Board, considered in connection with their evaluation of Mr. Moynihan’s performance included:

 

    Strengthened Balance Sheet. Under Mr. Moynihan’s direction, our company continued to strengthen its balance sheet in key risk areas by improving capital and overall liquidity and reducing debt.

 

  n  

Improved Capital Positions. Regulatory capital ratios increased significantly, with Tier 1 common equity ratio increasing to 9.86%. Overall during 2011, we generated 126 basis points of Tier 1 common equity and reduced risk-weighted assets by $172 billion.

 

  n  

Increased Overall Liquidity. Our company substantially improved its funding position in 2011 by increasing overall liquidity and reducing debt. Global excess liquidity sources increased to $378 billion at December 31, 2011, from $336 billion at December 31, 2010. Long-term debt declined to $372 billion at December 31, 2011, from $448 billion at December 31, 2010.

 

  n  

Improved Credit. Our company’s provision for credit losses decreased $15 billion to $13.4 billion in 2011 compared to 2010, reflecting improved credit quality across all major consumer and commercial portfolios and underwriting changes implemented over the past several years. In addition, net-charge offs and net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans and leases outstanding declined year over year.

 

    Delivered Efficiency Improvements. Under Mr. Moynihan’s leadership in 2011, our company successfully completed our Project New BAC initiative Phase 1 review process, began the implementation of those outcomes, and commenced the Phase 2 evaluations. Through Project New BAC, our company identified a significant number of potential short- and long-term process improvements and cost savings for our company. In addition, certain operating platform simplifications were initiated in 2011, eliminating a number of obsolete applications and creating opportunities to further enhance our company’s efficiency through site consolidations and investments in next-generation technology.

 

    Continued Progress Resolving Legacy Issues. During 2011, Mr. Moynihan continued our company’s focus on addressing legacy issues by establishing our Legacy Asset Servicing division focused on servicing and managing the exposures related to selected residential mortgage, home equity and discontinued real estate portfolios. In addition, Mr. Moynihan oversaw our company’s continued efforts to reduce non-core assets and legacy loan portfolios.

 

    Executed Customer-Driven Model. In 2011, Mr. Moynihan realigned our company’s management team, operating structure and financial reporting to execute on a customer-driven instead of a product-driven model for our organization. This realignment further enhanced the customer-relationship strategy implemented across all lines of business in 2010. Under Mr. Moynihan’s leadership, our company also made progress in increasing business referrals across multiple lines of business. Based on Mr. Moynihan’s direction, our company expanded its commitment to individual customers as well through the opening of 42 loan modification customer assistance centers in 22 states.

 

    Enhanced Risk & Compliance Management. Mr. Moynihan encouraged a culture of risk management accountability across the enterprise globally so that our company continued enhancing its risk, compliance and regulatory positions.

 

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  O   

Other Named Executive Officer Performance. As part of the annual performance reviews for our other named executive officers, the Committee considered the perspectives of our Chief Executive Officer and our Global Head of Human Resources on each individual’s performance and incentive recommendations, as well as the performance of our various lines of business, business segments and functions. The majority of incentives awarded to our other named executive officers for 2011 also continue to be earned and paid over time (including based on our future achievement of return on assets goals). In particular, the Committee considered the following:

 

    Mr. Thompson, Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Mr. Thompson successfully transitioned from serving as our company’s Chief Risk Officer (CRO) to our CFO in June 2011. As our CRO during the first half of 2011, Mr. Thompson continued to strengthen our overall risk management capabilities and implemented key elements of our international risk governance and control programs. As CFO, Mr. Thompson successfully developed and executed plans to meet increased regulatory capital requirements and made meaningful improvements in our company’s overall liquidity position. Mr. Thompson effectively interacted with our investor community through our quarterly earnings calls, investor conference calls, as well as individual investor meetings. Mr. Thompson also played a significant leadership role on multiple key enterprise matters such as the sales of interests in China Construction Bank and BlackRock as well as structuring exchange agreements with certain preferred security holders. He developed and communicated plans to mitigate the impact of major external events, including U.S. and global economic, regulatory and financial events.

 

    Mr. Noski, CFO for a portion of 2011 and currently Vice Chairman. Mr. Noski transitioned from serving as our CFO to Vice Chairman in June 2011. As our CFO during the first half of 2011, he focused on enhancing stress testing, liquidity, investor relations, communications and disclosure, and subsidiary governance. As Vice Chairman, Mr. Noski played a key leadership role with the home loans management team by providing strategic support to define the next-generation mortgage business model and mortgage servicing rights accounting recommendations.

 

    Mr. Darnell, Co-Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Darnell served as President, Global Commercial Banking (GCB) until being named Co-Chief Operating Officer in September 2011. In his new role, Mr. Darnell assumed responsibility for our businesses serving individual and small business customers with deposits, lending, card, home loans and U.S. based wealth investment management services. Under Mr. Darnell’s leadership and direction, our company completed the build out of business banking and enterprise client coverage groups, significantly increasing referral revenues compared to last year. Mr. Darnell also launched our optimal practice model as the foundation of our wealth management strategy.

 

    Mr. Lynch, Global Chief of Legal, Compliance and Regulatory Relations. Mr. Lynch joined our company in July 2011 as Global Chief of Legal, Compliance and Regulatory Relations. During his first six months, Mr. Lynch effectively managed significant litigation matters and other compliance and regulatory risks, while focusing on resolution of legacy mortgage issues.

 

    Mr. Montag, Co-Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Montag served as President, Global Banking and Markets (GBAM) until being named Co-Chief Operating Officer in September 2011. In his new role, Mr. Montag continues to lead and manage our businesses that serve companies and institutional investors, including GBAM, with the addition of middle market commercial banking and international wealth investment management. Mr. Montag effectively led our GBAM business through market volatility, contributing solid returns while reducing risk-weighted assets consistent with our company’s capital plan. Under Mr. Montag’s strong leadership, GBAM maintained our #2 global ranking in net investment banking fees, while gaining market share, as reported by Dealogic. Bank of America Merrill Lynch also was named “Top Global Research Firm of 2011” by Institutional Investor.

 

Our 2011 Compensation Decisions

 

Setting 2011 Total Compensation. Our practice for 2010 and prior performance years was to establish a target total direct compensation package for each executive officer at the beginning of each year. In January 2011, the Compensation and Benefits Committee decided not to establish target total direct compensation opportunities for our executive officers for 2011. Instead, the Committee determined 2011 year-end incentive compensation in January 2012 after its review of the 2011 performance of our company, lines of business and our named executive officers on a year-over-

 

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year basis. At the time of Mr. Lynch’s employment during 2011, the Committee established a competitive 2011 total target compensation opportunity for Mr. Lynch of $7 million based on his level of experience and the intended scope and importance of his new strategic role for our company. The Committee determined to award Mr. Lynch a 2011 performance year incentive for the full year.

 

2011 Compensation Decisions for Our Named Executive Officers. The following table summarizes the compensation decisions the Committee made for the named executive officers for the 2011 performance year:

 

2011 Compensation Decisions

 

Name  

Base

Salary

($)

   

Annual
Cash
Incentive

($)

   

Cash-

Settled
Restricted
Stock

Units
($)

    Performance
Contingent
Restricted
Stock Units
($)
    Time
Vesting
Restricted
Stock
($)
    Total
($)
 

Brian T. Moynihan

    950,000        0        1,815,000        4,235,000        0        7,000,000   

Bruce R. Thompson

    850,000        2,850,000        810,000        5,490,000        0        10,000,000   

Charles H. Noski

    850,000        1,360,000        0        2,040,000        0        4,250,000   

David C. Darnell

    850,000        2,850,000        0        4,300,000        0        8,000,000   

Gary G. Lynch

    850,000        2,460,000        0        0        3,690,000        7,000,000   

Thomas K. Montag

    850,000        2,850,000        1,000,000        7,300,000        0        12,000,000   

 

Some of these 2011 compensation decisions are not reflected in the Summary Compensation Table on page 32. In addition, the table above reflects Mr. Lynch’s base salary on an annualized basis but does not reflect his signing bonus and new hire restricted stock unit and long-term cash awards. The table above differs from the Summary Compensation Table in two ways. First, we determine incentive compensation amounts after the performance year, while SEC rules require that the Summary Compensation Table include equity compensation in the year granted. Therefore, equity incentive compensation granted in 2011 for 2010 performance is shown in the Summary Compensation Table as 2011 compensation. Second, the Summary Compensation Table includes changes in pension value, certain nonqualified deferred compensation earnings and other elements of compensation (such as 401(k) matching contributions and perquisites) as part of total compensation. Those amounts are not shown in the table above.

 

2011 Base Salary Increases. The Committee did not increase Mr. Moynihan’s base salary for 2011. The Committee set the 2011 annual rates of base salary for each of our other named executive officers to $850,000 effective January 1, 2011. The base salaries were increased to a level that the Committee determined appropriate for internal consistency and that is reflective of the broader market trend of delivering base salary as a higher percentage of total compensation. No changes have been made to 2011 base salary levels for our named executive officers.

 

2011 Performance Year Incentive Awards. The Committee determined that incentive compensation for 2011 should be delivered in a balanced mix of award types with an emphasis on long-term equity-based awards. The long-term incentive awards reflected in the table above were intended to focus our named executive officers on our future sustainable performance and execution against our comprehensive three-year strategic plan, customer-driven strategy and Project New BAC initiatives. The Committee’s approach on the forms of incentive compensation awards for 2011 generally follows the approach used for 2010, but with two differences. First, the Committee decided to award annual cash incentive awards to certain of our named executive officers within the stockholder-approved limits of our EIC Plan based on our reported net income for the year. Second, Mr. Lynch received time-based restricted stock units rather than performance-contingent restricted stock units.

 

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The following provides additional information about the types of year-end incentive awards the Committee decided to use for 2011:

 

   

No Annual Cash Incentive for our CEO. The Committee determined not to award Mr. Moynihan any annual cash incentive for 2011. Similarly, Mr. Moynihan did not receive any annual cash incentive award for performance years 2009 or 2010.

 

   

Annual Cash Incentives for Other Named Executive Officers. Annual cash incentive awards were made to each of our other named executive officers within the stockholder-approved limits of our EIC Plan for performance year 2011.

 

   

Cash-Settled Restricted Stock Unit Awards. In order to provide an appropriately balanced mix of fixed and variable compensation and to tie the actual amount received to stock price performance and continued service over the 12 months following the award, each of Messrs. Moynihan, Thompson and Montag received an award of cash-settled restricted stock units that vest and pay monthly over 12 months through March 2013.

 

   

Performance Contingent Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Our named executive officers, other than Mr. Lynch, received a substantial portion of their 2011 performance year incentive awards in the form of performance contingent restricted stock units (PRSUs) which must be earned based on our company’s future achievement of specific return on assets goals.

 

  O   

The Committee considered the appropriateness of return on assets as a performance metric again for 2011 because it is intended to focus our named executive officers on the creation of net income in an efficient manner for the long-term benefit of our stockholders.

 

  O   

In determining to award PRSUs as a substantial component of 2011 variable incentive compensation, the Committee also acknowledged that our company has not yet met the threshold return on assets performance goal established for the PRSUs granted for 2010 performance.

 

  O   

The overall design of the PRSUs awarded for 2011 is generally consistent with the PRSUs awarded to our company’s named executive officers for 2010 performance, with some exceptions. These awards will be settled 100% in shares (rather than 60% in shares and 40% in cash for the 2010 PRSU awards). In addition, the first potential settlement date will occur in March 2015 subject to the achievement of applicable return on assets performance goals and the last performance period will end December 31, 2016. The portion of the PRSUs earned for a performance period depends on the level of our return on assets for the performance period. Any PRSUs not earned by December 31, 2016 will be canceled. See the discussion of PRSUs awarded for performance year 2010 following the Grants of Plan-Based Awards table beginning on page 36 for more information about the terms of these awards.

 

  O   

The Committee continues to believe that achievement of the return on assets goals would signify that our company has made considerable progress against our strategic plan.

 

   

Time-Vested Restricted Stock. Mr. Lynch’s long-term incentive award for performance year 2011 was delivered in the form of a restricted stock award which vests on the third anniversary of the grant. The form of that award is consistent with the long-term incentive awards granted to other members of senior management for 2011 performance.

 

  O   

New Hire Awards. In addition, Mr. Lynch received new hire restricted stock and long-term cash awards in July 2011, each of which vests in installments over approximately three years under the terms of his offer letter dated April 14, 2011, to buy-out the equity and other incentive awards which he forfeited from his prior employer in order to take an important leadership role in our company.

 

The actual amounts realized by the named executive officers from these equity-based awards will depend on the future performance of our business and stock price growth.

 

For future years, the Committee intends to continue to evaluate each year the performance of our company, our lines of business and our individual executive officers, including their accountability for strong risk management practices, and other factors it determines appropriate consistent with our pay-for-performance philosophy and our compensation principles. In deciding the appropriate mix and form of compensation for our named executive officers, the Committee intends to evaluate the balance between fixed and variable compensation and, for variable compensation, to choose the form of equity awards from a portfolio of award types.

 

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Our Other Compensation Practices

 

Other Pay-for-Performance Features of Our Program

 

Many of our program’s other unique features further demonstrate the commitment to our pay-for-performance philosophy.

 

Conditions of Stock Ownership

 

   

We promote long-term stock ownership by our executive officers, with award features such as deferred settlement of performance-based awards and holding requirements described below. The value our named executive officers realize from equity compensation awards is dependent on future sustainable performance of our company.

 

   

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines include stock ownership and retention requirements for our executive officers. The Guidelines currently require (a) the Chief Executive Officer to hold at least 500,000 shares of our common stock and retain at least 50% of the net after-tax shares from future equity awards until retirement and (b) our other executive officers to hold at least 300,000 shares of our common stock and retain at least 50% of the net after-tax shares from future equity awards until the ownership guideline is achieved. New executive officers have up to five years to meet these requirements. The Committee believes the stock retention and ownership requirements for our executive officers create an appropriate level of required long-term stock holdings by our executive officers.

 

   

The PRSU awards for performance during 2010 and 2011 also require us to attain pre-established return on assets goals measured on a rolling four quarter basis over the five-year period of the award. These performance-based vesting requirements further tie the ultimate value of the awards to our sustainable performance over time.

 

   

Our Stock Plan, which is the plan under which we make equity awards to our executive officers and other key employees, prohibits discounted stock options, reload stock options or stock option re-pricing.

 

Severance and SERPs

 

   

We do not have any agreements with our executive officers that provide for cash severance payments upon termination of employment or in connection with a change in control.

 

   

We also have a policy prohibiting future employment or severance agreements with our executive officers that provide severance benefits exceeding two times base salary and bonus, unless the agreement has been approved by our stockholders.

 

   

Our current executive officers do not accrue additional retirement benefits under any supplemental executive retirement plans (SERPs).

 

Other Elements of Compensation

 

The other elements of our executive compensation program are as follows:

 

Retirement Benefits

 

Executive officers participate in our various employee benefit plans designed to provide retirement income. Our qualified and nonqualified pension plans provide a retirement income base, and our qualified and nonqualified 401(k) plans permit additional retirement savings. To encourage retirement savings under the qualified and nonqualified 401(k) plans, we provide an employer matching contribution.

 

We limit eligible compensation for earning benefits under the qualified and nonqualified pension plans and for employer matching contributions under the qualified and nonqualified 401(k) plans to the first $250,000 in annual cash compensation. As a result, the Committee’s decisions to grant annual performance-based cash incentive, restricted stock and stock option awards do not create any additional retirement benefits under these plans.

 

We believe that our executive officers should be able to provide for their retirement needs from the compensation they earn based on our performance. At the request of Mr. Moynihan, his participation in the FleetBoston Financial Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (Fleet SERP) was frozen effective December 31, 2005. Therefore, he does not earn further benefits under that plan for compensation or periods of service after 2005. In addition, effective

 

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December 31, 2002 we froze benefits under the Bank of America Corporation and Designated Subsidiaries Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for Senior Management Employees (Bank of America SERP). As a participant in the Bank of America SERP, Mr. Darnell does not earn any additional benefits under that plan for compensation or service after 2002.

 

For more information about these plans, see “Pension Benefits” and “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” on pages 40 and 43, respectively.

 

Perquisites and Other Fringe Benefits

 

Our named executive officers receive health and welfare benefits, such as group medical, group life and long-term disability coverage, under plans generally available to all other U.S.-based salaried employees. Consistent with our pay-for-performance philosophy, we provide very limited executive fringe benefits. Because we have internal expertise on benefit, tax and financial advisory matters, we make those services available at no cost to our executive officers for their personal benefit, tax and financial planning needs. We also may provide certain of our executive officers with secured parking and home security systems. Our Excessive or Luxury Expenditures Policy (Expenditures Policy) provides for the use of corporate aircraft by senior management for conducting business on behalf of our company, including use related to reasonable business development, and approved emergency travel. In February 2011, the Board amended this policy to allow our Chief Executive Officer limited personal use of our aircraft, provided that he reimburses us for the incremental operating costs.

 

Competitor Groups

 

The Committee uses a group of five leading U.S. financial services companies as the primary competitor group for periodic review of compensation levels in order to evaluate relative performance. We use these banks as our primary competitor group because we are in direct competition with them for customers, employees and investors. Also, these banks follow similar economic cycles to our own, making relative performance measurements more meaningful. These banks are: Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo. In addition, given our growing global scope, the Committee periodically reviews executive compensation for a group of leading international financial institutions for a general perspective on compensation practices across the global financial services industry: Banco Santander, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland and UBS.

 

From time to time, the Committee also reviews executive compensation for a leading group of global companies headquartered in the U.S. spanning all industries to get a general perspective on compensation practices for companies of similar size and global scope. For 2011, these companies were: Abbott Laboratories, AT&T, Chevron, Cisco, Coca-Cola, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil, General Electric, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, PepsiCo, Pfizer, Philip Morris International, Procter & Gamble, Verizon and Wal-Mart.

 

The Committee uses these groups periodically to gain perspective on market trends in executive compensation and evaluate relative performance, but without any formulaic benchmarking.

 

Timing of Equity Grants

 

Awards of restricted stock and stock options to executive officers and other eligible key employees are made on a regular award date each year shortly after the end of the applicable performance year. This is the same date that we pay cash incentive awards for the performance year, and is scheduled to give us sufficient time to complete all performance reviews and obtain all necessary approvals. For the past few years, the award date has been February 15, or the immediately preceding business day if February 15 is not a business day.

 

We occasionally make awards of restricted stock or stock options other than on the regular annual award date, usually in connection with hiring a new key employee or awards under annual performance plans that follow a different timing cycle. We generally make these awards on the first day of the calendar month following approval, which for newly hired employee is on or after their actual hire date. In the case of Mr. Lynch, his new hire restricted stock and long-term cash awards were made on the first business day following his start of employment.

 

Formal approval for awards is obtained prior to the grant dates. We do not coordinate the timing of our awards with the release of material non-public information. The exercise price for the stock options equals the closing price of our common stock for the grant date.

 

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Section 162(m)

 

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code limits the deductibility of compensation paid to certain executive officers in excess of $1,000,000, but excludes “performance-based compensation” from this limit.

 

Annual incentive awards may be provided under the stockholder-approved EIC Plan, which is intended to provide “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m). Under the EIC Plan’s compensation formula, participating executive officers may receive maximum deductible incentive compensation for a year up to 0.20% of our net income for that year. Under the EIC Plan, the Committee can determine to make all or any portion of the annual incentive award in cash or a restricted stock award under our Stock Plan. For performance year 2011, any cash incentive awards paid to certain of our named executive officers was paid under the EIC Plan.

 

Under our Stock Plan, awards in the form of PRSUs and stock options may be made which are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m). Compensation realized by our executive officers through the exercise of stock options awarded in prior years should be fully deductible to us as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m). In addition, for performance year 2011, the PRSUs granted to certain of our named executive officers should be fully deductible to us (to the extent earned) as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m). The cash-settled restricted stock units awarded for performance year 2011 to Messrs. Moynihan, Thompson and Montag and the time-vesting restricted stock units granted to Mr. Lynch are not intended to be “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m), and as a result may not be fully deductible when paid.

 

Some compensation paid to our named executive officers during 2011 exceeds the applicable Section 162(m) deduction limit. While the Committee retains discretion to make compensation decisions in light of a variety of considerations, all compensation decisions for our executive officers are made after consideration of the Section 162(m) implications.

 

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Executive Compensation

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table shows compensation paid, accrued or awarded with respect to our named executive officers during the years indicated:

 

2011 Summary Compensation Table (1)

 

Name and

Principal Position (2) 

  Year     Salary
($) (3)
    Bonus
($) (3) (4)
    Stock
Awards
($) (5)
    Option
Awards
($)
    Non Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($) (3) (6)
   

Change in
Pension Value
and

Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($) (7)

    All Other
Compensation
($) (8)
    Total
($)
 

Brian T. Moynihan

Chief Executive Officer

     2011        950,000        0        6,111,959        0        0        604,698        420,524        8,087,181   
     2010        950,000        0        0        0        0        719,835        270,234        1,940,069   
     2009        800,000        0        5,200,000        0        0        475,220        36,248        6,511,468   

Bruce R. Thompson

Chief Financial Officer

     2011        850,000        4,350,000        5,841,816        0        0        34,810        37,420        11,114,046   
     2010        800,000        1,500,000        8,802,637        0        234,158        36,623        63,645        11,437,063   

Charles H. Noski

Vice Chairman

     2011        850,000        1,360,000        4,153,442        0        0        9,535        58,752        6,431,729   
     2010        513,333        500,000        0        0        0        0        115,001        1,128,334   

David C. Darnell

Co-Chief Operating Officer

     2011        850,000        2,850,000        4,491,114        0        0        204,879        37,420        8,433,413   

Gary G. Lynch

Global Chief of Legal, Compliance and Regulatory Relations

     2011        405,930        2,610,000        4,238,865        0        0        0        22,410        7,277,205   

Thomas K. Montag

Co-Chief Operating Officer

     2011        850,000        2,850,000        10,569,294        0        0        0        29,310        14,298,604   
     2010        800,000        0        0        0        0        0        31,248        831,248   
     2009        586,539        0        29,313,469        0        0        0        30,423        29,930,431   

(1)   The SEC disclosure rules require the Summary Compensation Table to include in each year’s amount the aggregate grant date fair value of stock and option awards granted during the year. Typically, we grant stock and option awards early in the year as part of total year-end compensation awards made for prior year performance. As a result, the amounts for stock and option awards generally appear in the Summary Compensation Table for the year after the performance year to which they relate, and therefore the 2011 Summary Compensation Table does not fully reflect the Compensation and Benefits Committee’s view of its pay-for-performance executive compensation program for a particular performance year. See the Compensation Discussion and Analysis for a discussion about how the Committee viewed its 2011 compensation decisions for the named executive officers.

 

(2)   The listed positions are those held as of December 31, 2011. Mr. Moynihan began his service as Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2010. Mr. Noski served as Chief Financial Officer between May 11, 2010 and June 28, 2011, after which he assumed the role of Vice Chairman and ceased to serve as an executive officer of our company. Mr. Thompson began his service as Chief Financial Officer effective June 29, 2011. Messrs. Darnell and Montag began their service as Co-Chief Operating Officers effective September 6, 2011. Prior to that time, Mr. Darnell was President, Global Commercial Banking and Mr. Montag was President, Global Banking and Markets. Mr. Lynch joined our company on July 11, 2011 as the Global Chief of Legal, Compliance and Regulatory Relations.

 

(3)   Includes any amounts deferred under our qualified and nonqualified 401(k) plans. See “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” on page 43.

 

(4)  

For 2011, amounts reflect annual cash incentive awards received by the named executive officers for performance during 2011, and additionally include (i) a cash retention payment of $1,500,000 for Mr. Thompson under his Retention Award Letter Agreement dated January 26, 2009, and (ii) a signing bonus of $150,000 for Mr. Lynch

 

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under his offer letter dated April 14, 2011. For 2010, amounts reflect (i) the signing bonus Mr. Noski received under his offer letter dated April 13, 2010, and (ii) a cash retention payment Mr. Thompson received under his Retention Award Letter Agreement dated January 26, 2009.

 

(5)   Amounts shown are the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock awards, performance contingent restricted stock units (PRSUs), cash-settled restricted stock units (CRSUs) and, for 2009, stock salary awards, granted in the year indicated. Grants of restricted stock (including PRSUs but not CRSUs or stock salary) include the right to receive cash dividends only if and when the underlying award becomes vested. The table below shows the total grant date fair value and number of CRSUs, PRSUs or, in the case of Mr. Lynch, time-vesting restricted stock units, granted to the named executive officers in 2011 included in the “Stock Awards” column.

 

2011 Stock Awards

 

   

Cash-Settled

Restricted Stock Units

   

Performance Contingent

Restricted Stock Units

(Target)

    Time-Vesting
Restricted Stock Units
    Total  
Name   ($)     (#)     ($)     (#)     ($)     (#)    

($)

 

Brian T. Moynihan

    0        0        6,111,959        413,809        0        0        6,111,959   

Bruce R. Thompson

    911,737        61,729        4,930,079        333,790        0        0        5,841,816   

Charles H. Noski

    911,737        61,729        3,241,705        219,479        0        0        4,153,442   

David C. Darnell

    911,737        61,729        3,579,377        242,341        0        0        4,491,114   

Gary G. Lynch

    0        0        0        0        4,238,865        415,168        4,238,865   

Thomas K. Montag

    911,737        61,729        9,657,557        653,863        0        0        10,569,294   

 

In general, the grant date fair value is based on the closing price of our common stock on the applicable grant date. For the PRSUs granted in 2011, we have assumed two-thirds of the PRSUs granted would vest as the probable outcome for purposes of determining the grant date fair value. The amount shown for the PRSU awards is the grant date fair value calculated by multiplying two-thirds of the number of PRSUs granted to each named executive officer by the closing price of our common stock on the grant date. However, for the stock salary awards made in 2009, the grant date fair value was the expensed amount used to determine the number of vested stock units granted. See “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” on page 36 for a description of the CRSUs, PRSUs and time-vesting restricted stock units granted in 2011, and see “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” on page 43 for a description of the 2009 stock salary awards.

 

The PRSUs are subject to adjustment upward or downward (to zero) depending on the achievement of performance goals based on our return on assets measured each quarter based on the prior 12-month period. Assuming our company’s performance results in the maximum number of PRSUs vesting, the maximum number of PRSUs and related grant date fair value that each named executive officer would be entitled to receive is shown in the table below.

 

Name   Maximum PRSUs  
  ($)     (#)  

Brian T. Moynihan

    9,167,946        620,714   

Bruce R. Thompson

    7,395,132        500,686   

Charles H. Noski

    4,862,565        329,219   

David C. Darnell

    5,369,072        363,512   

Gary G. Lynch

    0        0   

Thomas K. Montag

    14,486,357        980,796   

 

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The amount for 2009 for Mr. Montag includes (i) $20,000,008, which is the grant date fair value of a restricted stock award granted in January 2009 and required by a contractual commitment entered into by Merrill Lynch in May 2008 in connection with hiring Mr. Montag, well before the Bank of America acquisition of Merrill Lynch, plus (ii) $9,313,461, which is the grant date fair value of stock salary awards made in November and December of 2009.

 

(6)   For Mr. Thompson, the amount for 2010 includes the portion of a 2009 long-term cash award that was paid upon vesting during 2010 plus the unpaid balance of the award as of the date during 2010 that Mr. Thompson met the eligibility requirements for Rule of 60 treatment under the award. See “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” on page 43.

 

(7)   The following table shows the change in pension value and the amount of any above-market earnings on nonqualified deferred compensation for the named executive officers:

 

Name   

Change in

Pension Value

($)

    

Above-Market
Earnings on Nonqualified

Deferred Compensation

($)

 

Brian T. Moynihan

     568,987         35,711   

Bruce R. Thompson

     34,810         0   

Charles H. Noski

     9,535         0   

David C. Darnell

     204,879         0   

Gary G. Lynch

     0         0   

Thomas K. Montag

     0         0   

 

The “Change in Pension Value” equals the change in the actuarial present value of all pension benefits from December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2011. For this purpose, in accordance with SEC rules, the present value was determined using the same assumptions applicable for valuing pension benefits for purposes of our financial statements. See “Pension Benefits” on page 40.

 

Consistent with our pay-for-performance philosophy, the named executive officers are not accruing significant additional pension benefits. This is because pension benefits accrue on no more than the first $250,000 of compensation.

 

For Mr. Moynihan and Mr. Darnell, the amounts listed above under “Change in Pension Value” result primarily because those two named executive officers have frozen annuity benefits under prior supplemental executive retirement plans. These frozen benefits are an annual annuity payment beginning at age 60. The amount of this annuity payment has been unchanged for each of these two named executive officers since the applicable freeze date. However, the lump sum value of the frozen annuity amount will increase each year based on the passage of time (i.e., the time-value of money) because the named executive officer is one year closer to his retirement age when payment of the annuity is scheduled to commence.

 

The above-market earnings on nonqualified deferred compensation result from Mr. Moynihan’s participation in a legacy FleetBoston deferred compensation plan that includes a 12% annual interest crediting rate for certain prior year deferrals. See “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” on page 43.

 

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(8)   The following table lists all amounts included in the “All Other Compensation” column for each named executive officer in 2011:

 

2011 All Other Compensation Table

 

Name  

Benefit, Tax

& Financial

Advisory

Services

($)

   

Use of

Corporate

Aircraft

($)

   

Matching &
Other
Employer

Contributions

($)

   

Relocation

Tax Gross

Up

($)

   

Secured

Parking

($)

   

Total

($)

 

Brian T. Moynihan

    22,410        385,614        12,500        0        0        420,524   

Bruce R. Thompson

    22,410        0        12,250        0        2,760        37,420   

Charles H. Noski

    22,410        30,299        2,356        2,537        1,150        58,752   

David C. Darnell

    22,410        0        12,250        0        2,760        37,420   

Gary G. Lynch

    22,410        0        0        0        0        22,410   

Thomas K. Montag

    22,410        0        6,900        0        0        29,310   

 

For certain of the amounts reported in this table, the incremental cost to us in providing the benefits differs from the out-of-pocket cost and is determined as follows:

 

Benefit    Determination of Incremental Cost
Benefit, Tax & Financial Advisory Services    Determined using a method that takes into account our actual direct expenses (such as rent, compensation and benefits and travel) paid with respect to our employees who provide benefit, tax and financial advisory services to our executive officers and other eligible executives.
Use of Corporate Aircraft    For corporate-owned or leased aircraft, determined using a method that takes into account all variable costs such as landing fees, aircraft fuel expense and plane repositioning costs. Since our aircraft are used primarily for business travel, we do not include the fixed costs that do not change based on usage, such as crew salaries and the acquisition costs of corporate-owned or leased aircraft. For aircraft provided by a third party vendor, determined using a method that takes into account the contracted per-hour costs, fuel charges, segment fees and taxes, as well as a proportional share of the monthly management fee and insurance costs.
Secured Parking    Determined based upon the monthly rental that we charge to third parties for parking in the same corporate-owned parking structure.

 

All use of our corporate aircraft by our named executive officers in 2011 was consistent with our Expenditures Policy. The amounts shown for Messrs. Moynihan and Noski for use of corporate aircraft reflect the aggregate incremental cost to our company for elements of business and/or business development related flights. While we generally do not consider such amounts as compensation to these named executive officers, SEC disclosure rules require that we include in the Summary Compensation Table the value of certain flights or portions of certain flights as a perquisite. Under his aircraft time sharing agreement, during 2011 Mr. Moynihan reimbursed our company for the incremental cost of certain other flights on our corporate aircraft.

 

The table does not include any amounts for personal benefits provided to our named executive officers for which we believe there is no aggregate incremental cost to us, including use of corporate-owned or leased apartments and vehicles.

 

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

The following table shows additional information regarding: (i) CRSUs and PRSUs granted to certain named executive officers in February 2011 that were awarded for performance during 2010; and (ii) a new hire restricted stock unit award granted to Mr. Lynch in July 2011 in connection with his offer letter dated April 14, 2011. The Compensation Discussion and Analysis includes information about equity-based awards granted in February 2012 for performance during 2011.

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2011

 

Name                    

 

Estimated Future Payouts Under

Equity Incentive Plan Awards

   

All Other Stock

Awards:

Number of

Shares of
Stock or Units
(#)

   

Grant Date
Fair Value of

Stock and

Option

Awards

($) (1)

 
 

Award

Type

    Grant Date    

Approval

Date

   

Threshold

(#)

   

Target

(#)

   

Maximum

(#)

     

Brian T. Moynihan

    PRSU         2/15/2011        1/25/2011        206,905        413,809        620,714               6,111,959   

Bruce R. Thompson

    PRSU         2/15/2011        1/25/2011        166,896        333,790        500,686               4,930,079   
    CRSU         2/15/2011        1/25/2011                             61,729        911,737   

Charles H. Noski

    PRSU         2/15/2011        1/25/2011        109,740        219,479        329,219               3,241,705   
    CRSU         2/15/2011        1/25/2011                             61,729        911,737   

David C. Darnell

    PRSU         2/15/2011        1/25/2011        121,171        242,341        363,512               3,579,377   
    CRSU         2/15/2011        1/25/2011                             61,729        911,737   

Gary G. Lynch

    RSU         7/12/2011        2/23/2011                             415,168        4,238,865   

Thomas K. Montag

    PRSU         2/15/2011        1/25/2011        326,933        653,863        980,796               9,657,557   
    CRSU         2/15/2011        1/25/2011                             61,729        911,737   

(1)   The number of CRSUs and PRSUs granted in 2011 was calculated by dividing the original award value determined by the Compensation and Benefit Committee by the average closing price of our common stock for the 10-day period ending on, and including, the grant date. Because the grant date fair value is based on the closing price of our common stock on the grant date, the dollar amount of the grant date fair value will differ slightly from the original award value determined by the Compensation and Benefits Committee. For additional information about the applicable assumptions for determining the grant date fair value of restricted stock awards, see footnote 5 to the Summary Compensation Table.

 

The Compensation and Benefits Committee delivers annual incentive awards to selected executive officers under the terms of the stockholder-approved EIC Plan. Under this plan, our stockholders have authorized an award of up to 0.20% of our net income each year for each named executive officer that has been selected for participation in the plan by the Compensation and Benefits Committee during the first quarter of the performance year. This award may be delivered in any combination of cash or restricted stock as the Committee determines. This stockholder-approved formula acts as a maximum amount of annual incentive compensation that can be delivered to the covered named executive officers. Under the plan, though, the Committee can determine to award any amount below the maximum. For performance during 2011, all amounts awarded under the EIC Plan were in the form of cash incentive awards, as shown in the “Bonus” column in the Summary Compensation Table.

 

The following describes the material terms of the CRSUs and PRSUs granted to certain of our named executive officers in February 2011 for their performance in 2010, as well as a new hire restricted stock unit award granted to Mr. Lynch in July 2011:

 

Cash-Settled Restricted Stock Units (CRSUs)

 

   

These CRSU awards granted in 2011 vest and pay monthly in cash over 12 months from March 2011 through February 2012, based on the closing price of our common stock as of the 15th day of each month.

 

   

Any unpaid portion of the award is vested in full and immediately paid in case of termination of employment due to death or disability, and is forfeited for any other termination of employment during the vesting period.

 

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Payment during the vesting period is also conditioned on compliance with covenants related to non-solicitation, detrimental conduct and compliance with anti-hedging/derivative transactions policies. Awards also are subject to recoupment (i) under our Incentive Compensation Recoupment Policy, (ii) in case of violation of covenants regarding detrimental conduct and anti-hedging/derivative transactions policies and (iii) under Section 954 of the Financial Reform Act and any policies we may adopt to implement those requirements.

 

Performance Contingent Restricted Stock Units (PRSUs)

 

   

For the PRSUs granted in 2011, the Committee established performance goals based on our return on assets measured each quarter based on the prior 12-month period. Each performance period is comprised of four calendar quarters and occurs on a rolling quarterly basis. The first performance period is the four calendar quarters ending December 31, 2011 and the last performance period is the four calendar quarters ending December 31, 2015. Return on assets for these awards means our “return on assets” as defined under the Stock Plan calculated for the applicable performance period in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in effect as of January 1, 2011. The portion of the PRSUs earned for a performance period depends on the level of our return on assets for the performance period, as follows:

 

Return on Assets for the Performance Period    Percentage of  PRSUs Earned
Less than 50 basis points    0%
50 basis points – Threshold    33-1/3%
65 basis points – Target    66-2/3%
80 basis points or higher – Maximum    100%

 

   

The percentage earned for performance between 50 basis points and 65 basis points or between 65 basis points and 80 basis points in any performance period will be interpolated on a straight-line basis. The number of PRSUs earned for a period will be offset by any PRSUs earned for any prior performance periods. Any portion of the PRSUs not earned in any performance period will be carried forward to each subsequent performance period. Any PRSUs not earned by December 31, 2015 will be canceled.

 

   

PRSUs earned for performance periods in a given calendar year are settled on March 1 of the following year. To the extent earned, PRSUs will be settled 40% in cash and 60% in shares. The earliest settlement date, however, for the stock-settled portion of the PRSUs will be March 1, 2014.

 

   

In order to encourage sustainable, long-term performance, payment of awards on the scheduled settlement date is specifically conditioned on our company or its lines of business remaining profitable during the calendar year preceding the vesting period. If a loss is determined to have occurred:

 

  (A)   with respect to our company, for the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, or any Chief Executive Officer direct report who does not lead a line of business who is part of a key control function (such as audit, compliance, global human resources, legal, risk, etc.); or

 

  (B)   with respect to our company or applicable line of business, for executive officers who lead a line of business,

 

then the executive officer’s accountability for such loss will be determined, taking into account such factors as (i) the magnitude of the loss (including positive or negative variance from plan), (ii) the executive officer’s degree of involvement (including such factors as the executive officer’s current or former leadership role with respect to our company or line of business, and the degree to which the executive officer was involved in decisions that are determined to have contributed to the loss), (iii) the executive officer’s performance and (iv) such other factors as deemed appropriate. The Committee, together with key control functions, will review losses and the executive officer’s accountability. The Committee will then make a final determination to either take no action or to cancel all or a portion of the part of the executive officer’s award otherwise payable as of the applicable settlement date. All such determinations will be final and binding.

 

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The following chart shows the impact on vesting of the PRSUs in the event of termination of employment:

 

Reason for Termination    Impact on Vesting
   
Death    Full vesting; immediate payment
   
Disability    Continue to earn and pay per schedule, subject to return on assets performance and covenants (1)
   
Involuntary for cause (2)    Canceled
   
Involuntary without cause or voluntary    Canceled, unless eligible for Rule of 60
   
Rule of 60 (3)    Continue to earn and pay per schedule, provided the executive officer does not subsequently work for a competitive business and annually provides a written certification of compliance and subject to return on assets performance and covenants (1)

(1)   Covenants for vesting purposes are non-solicitation, detrimental conduct and compliance with anti-hedging/derivative transactions policies. Awards also are subject to recoupment (i) under our Incentive Compensation Recoupment Policy, (ii) in case of violation of covenants regarding detrimental conduct and anti-hedging/derivative transactions policies and (iii) under Section 954 of the Financial Reform Act and any policies we may adopt to implement those requirements.

 

(2)   For purposes of these awards, cause is generally defined as a termination of an employee’s employment if it occurs in conjunction with a determination that the employee has (i) committed an act of fraud or dishonesty in the course of his employment; (ii) been convicted of (or pleaded no contest with respect to) a crime constituting a felony; (iii) failed to perform his job function(s), which Bank of America views as being material to his position and the overall business of Bank of America and its subsidiaries under circumstances where such failure is detrimental to Bank of America or any subsidiary; (iv) materially breached any written policy applicable to employees of Bank of America and its subsidiaries including, but not limited to, the Bank of America Corporation Code of Ethics and General Policy on Insider Trading; or (v) made an unauthorized disclosure of any confidential or proprietary information of Bank of America or its subsidiaries or has committed any other material violation of Bank of America’s written policy regarding Confidential and Proprietary Information.

 

(3)   Rule of 60 is met when an employee has at least 10 years of vesting service under the pension plan in which he or she participates and his or her age and years of service add up to at least 60. Mr. Noski’s April 2010 offer letter provided that he will be treated as meeting any retirement provisions for equity awards, such as Rule of 60, if he resigns or is terminated without cause after attaining age 60. To receive this treatment, Mr. Noski must comply with all applicable covenants in the equity award agreements and provide our company with a general release of claims. Under his offer letter entered into with Merrill Lynch in 2008, Mr. Montag is deemed to meet any “career retirement” provisions for equity awards, such as Rule of 60, upon the third anniversary of his date of hire.

 

New Hire Restricted Stock Unit Award to Mr. Lynch (RSUs)

 

   

The award vests in installments over three years (that is, 169,105 units in February 2012, 166,988 units in February 2013 and 79,075 units in February 2014) and is payable, net of applicable taxes, in shares of our common stock.

 

   

Cash dividend equivalents are accrued and paid only if and when the underlying units become vested and payable.

 

   

Any unvested portion of the award is vested in full and immediately paid in case of termination of employment due to death. The award continues to become earned and payable according to the original vesting schedule in case of retirement on or after the second anniversary of his hire date or an involuntary termination of employment without cause at any time. In case of any other termination of employment, including voluntary termination of employment before the second anniversary of his hire date or an involuntary termination for cause at any time, the unvested portion of the award is forfeited. The definition of “cause” for this purpose is the same as described above for the PRSUs.

 

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Payment during the vesting period is also conditioned on compliance with covenants related to non-solicitation, detrimental conduct and compliance with anti-hedging/derivative transactions policies. Awards also are subject to recoupment (i) under our Incentive Compensation Recoupment Policy, (ii) in case of violation of covenants regarding detrimental conduct and anti-hedging/derivative transactions policies and (iii) under Section 954 of the Financial Reform Act and any policies we may adopt to implement those requirements.

 

Year-End Equity Values and Equity Exercised or Vested

 

The following table shows certain information about unexercised options and unvested restricted stock at December 31, 2011:

 

Outstanding Equity Awards as of December 31, 2011

 

Name   Option Awards     Stock Awards  
 

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Unexercised

Options

(#) Exercisable

    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#) Unexercisable 
 

Option
Exercise
Price

($)

    Option
Expiration Date
   

Number of
Shares/Units
of Stock

That Have

Not Vested

(#)

   

Market Value of

Shares/Units

of Stock

That Have

Not Vested

($) (1)

   

Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares/Units of
Stock That Have
Not Vested

(#)

   

Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market Value
of Unearned
Shares/Units of
Stock That Have
Not Vested

($) (1)

 

Brian T. Moynihan

    200,000          46.68        2/1/2015                      206,905  (2)      1,150,392   
    180,000          44.36        2/15/2016                               
    200,000          53.85        2/15/2017                               
    166,667          42.70        2/15/2018                               

Bruce R. Thompson

    15,557          46.68        2/1/2015        45,910  (3)      255,260        166,896  (2)      927,942   
    21,000          44.36        2/15/2016        609,179  (4)      3,387,035                 
    24,500          53.85        2/15/2017        10,289  (5)      57,207                 
    81,900          42.70        2/15/2018                               

Charles H. Noski

                           10,289  (5)      57,207        109,740  (2)      610,154   

David C. Darnell

    150,000          30.68        2/1/2012        27,825  (3)      154,707        121,171  (2)      673,711   
    150,000          35.02        2/3/2013        10,289  (5)      57,207                 
    120,000          40.78        2/2/2014                               
    105,000          46.68        2/1/2015                               
    105,000          44.36        2/15/2016                               
    105,000          53.85        2/15/2017                               
    78,750          42.70        2/15/2018                               

Gary R. Lynch

                           415,168  (6)      2,308,334                 

Thomas K. Montag

    2,102,216          30.71        8/4/2018        465,224  (7)      2,586,645        326,933  (2)      1,817,747   
                           10,289  (5)      57,207                 

(1)   Value is based on the closing market value of our common stock on December 30, 2011, which was $5.56 per share.
(2)   These PRSUs granted in 2011 vest based on the attainment of pre-established performance goals over multiple performance periods, with the last performance period ending December 31, 2015. The number of PRSUs shown in the table above is based on achievement of threshold performance. See the description of the PRSUs and vesting terms following “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” beginning on page 36.
(3)   Award vested February 13, 2012.
(4)   Award is scheduled to vest February 12, 2013.
(5)   Half of these remaining CRSUs vested and were paid on each of January 15 and February 15, 2012.
(6)   These restricted stock units vest as follows: 169,105 units vested on February 1, 2012, 166,988 units are scheduled to vest on February 1, 2013 and 79,075 units are scheduled to vest on February 1, 2014.
(7)   Award vested January 2, 2012.

 

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The following table shows information regarding the value of options exercised and restricted stock vested during 2011:

 

Options Exercised and Stock Vested in 2011

 

    Option Awards     Stock Awards  
Name   Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Exercise
(#)
    Value
Realized on
Exercise
($)
    Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Vesting
(#) (1)
    Value Realized
on Vesting
($) (2)
 

Brian T. Moynihan

    0        0        47,597        703,008   

Bruce R. Thompson

    0        0        144,959        1,853,906   

Charles H. Noski

    0        0        51,440        472,631   

David C. Darnell

    0        0        87,640        1,007,305   

Gary G. Lynch

    0        0        0        0   

Thomas K. Montag

    0        0        814,480        10,639,672   

(1)   Includes 51,440 CRSUs for each of Messrs. Thompson, Noski, Darnell and Montag which were settled and paid in cash during 2011.

 

(2)   Value represents the number of shares or units that vested multiplied by the closing market value of our common stock on the applicable vesting date.

 

Pension Benefits

 

The following table provides information regarding the actuarial present value of each named executive officer’s accumulated benefits under the pension plans in which the named executive officer participates. For this purpose, in accordance with SEC rules, the present value was determined using the same assumptions applicable for valuing pension benefits for purposes of our financial statements. See Note 19—Employee Benefit Plans to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the 2011 fiscal year included in our 2011 Form 10-K.

 

Pension Benefits in 2011

 

Name    Plan Name    Number
of Years
Credited
Service
(#)
    Present
Value of
Accumulated
Benefit
($)
   

Payments
During
Last
Fiscal

Year
($)

 

Brian T. Moynihan

   Fleet Legacy Pension Plan      18.75         224,914        0   
   RIAP      18.75         166,998        0   
   Fleet SERP (frozen)      12.75  (1)      6,415,964        0   

Bruce R. Thompson

   Bank of America Pension Plan      15.42         185,989        0   
   Pension Restoration Plan      15.42         660,265        0   

Charles H. Noski

   Bank of America Pension Plan      1.67         9,338        0   
   Pension Restoration Plan      1.67         197        0   

David C. Darnell

   Bank of America Pension Plan      32.50         350,989        0   
   Pension Restoration Plan      32.50         646,323        0   
   Bank of America SERP (frozen)      15.00  (1)      4,494,800        0   

Gary G. Lynch (2)

   Bank of America Pension Plan      0.00         0        0   
   Pension Restoration Plan      0.00         0        0   

Thomas K. Montag (3)

   N/A                      

(1)  

For Mr. Moynihan and Mr. Darnell, respectively, the named executive officer’s years of credited service under the Fleet SERP and the Bank of America SERP (as applicable) is lower than his years of credited service under the other

 

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pension plans and his actual service with us because the SERPs are frozen plans. Mr. Moynihan requested that his participation in the Fleet SERP be frozen effective December 31, 2005; therefore, his years of credited service under the Fleet SERP reflect his service through December 31, 2005. Similarly, the Bank of America SERP was frozen effective December 31, 2002, and therefore Mr. Darnell’s years of credited service under the Bank of America SERP reflect his service through December 31, 2002. In addition, the Bank of America SERP did not take into account more than 15 years of service in its benefit formula before it was frozen, and that limit is also reflected in the table.

 

(2)   No amount is shown for Mr. Lynch because he had not met the eligibility requirements for participation in the Bank of America Pension Plan and Pension Restoration Plan as of December 31, 2011.

 

(3)   Mr. Montag does not participate in any tax-qualified pension plans or restoration or supplemental retirement plans.

 

The following describes the material features of the pension plans presented in the table.

 

Qualified Pension Plans. We sponsor the Bank of America Pension Plan, a tax-qualified cash balance pension plan which is available to nearly all of our employees (subject to certain minimum service requirements), other than employees who are covered by The Bank of America Pension Plan for Legacy Companies (Legacy Companies Plan) or employees who work in business units not covered by a pension plan. The named executive officers participate in the Bank of America Pension Plan, other than (i) Mr. Moynihan, who participates in the Bank of America Pension Plan for Legacy Fleet, which is a component document of the Legacy Companies Plan (Legacy Fleet Pension Plan), (ii) Mr. Lynch, who is not yet eligible to participate in a tax-qualified pension plan and (iii) Mr. Montag, who does not participate in a tax-qualified pension plan.

 

Both the Bank of America Pension Plan and the Legacy Fleet Pension Plan generally express benefits as a hypothetical cash balance account established in each participant’s name. A participant’s account receives two forms of credits: (i) “compensation credits” and (ii) “investment/interest credits” (for the Bank of America Pension Plan) or “interest credits” (for the Legacy Fleet Pension Plan).

 

Compensation credits equal a percentage of a participant’s compensation. “Compensation” for this purpose includes both salary and bonus under the Bank of America Pension Plan and salary only for Mr. Moynihan under the Legacy Fleet Pension Plan. Compensation for this purpose is subject to the compensation limit applicable to tax-qualified plans ($245,000 for 2011). The applicable compensation credit percentage ranges between 4% and 6% under the Bank of America Pension Plan and between 3% and 7.5% (or between 6% and 15% for eligible compensation in excess of the Social Security wage base) under the Legacy Fleet Pension Plan, in each case determined by a schedule based on years of service and age measured at certain points in time.

 

The amount of “investment/interest credits” under the Bank of America Pension Plan depends on when the related compensation credits were made. Compensation credits made before 2008 receive “investment credits” based on the performance of certain hypothetical investment measures selected by the participant from a menu of investment measures, which correspond to the investment funds available under the Bank of America 401(k) Plan. Compensation credits made after 2007 receive “interest credits” equal to the yield of the 10-year U.S. Treasury Note. All compensation credits made under the Legacy Fleet Pension Plan receive “interest credits,” based on the yield of the 1-year Treasury Bill, subject to a minimum annual rate of 3.25%.

 

Under either plan, at termination of employment after having completed at least three years of service, a participant is eligible to receive the amount then credited to the participant’s cash balance account in an actuarially equivalent joint and survivor annuity (if married) or single life annuity (if not married). The participant may also choose from other optional forms of benefit, including a lump sum payment in the amount of the cash balance account.

 

Both plans also include certain protected minimum benefits, some of which relate to pension formulas from prior pension plans that have merged into the plans and some of which relate to the conversion to a cash balance form of plan. One of these protected minimum benefits under the Bank of America Pension Plan guarantees that the cash balance account will not be less than the opening cash balance account at conversion plus subsequent compensation credits.

 

Pension Restoration Plan. The named executive officers participate in the Bank of America Pension Restoration Plan (Pension Restoration Plan) other than (i) Mr. Moynihan, who participates in the Retirement Income Assurance Plan for Legacy Fleet (RIAP), (ii) Mr. Lynch, who is not yet eligible to participate in the Bank of America Pension Plan and (iii) Mr. Montag, who does not participate in a comparable plan.

 

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Both the Pension Restoration Plan and the RIAP are nonqualified deferred compensation plans that provide “make up” benefits for participants in the Bank of America Pension Plan or the Legacy Fleet Pension Plan (as applicable) whose plan benefits are reduced due to limits applicable to tax-qualified plans or due to participation in other nonqualified deferred compensation plans. However, since 2005, no benefits are accrued on a combined basis under the Bank of America Pension Plan and the Pension Restoration Plan, or under the Legacy Fleet Pension Plan and the RIAP, on any compensation for the year in excess of $250,000.

 

Under either plan, at termination of employment after having completed at least three years of service, a participant is eligible to receive the amount then credited to the participant’s Pension Restoration Plan or RIAP account, as applicable. As part of a design change to satisfy new federal tax laws affecting nonqualified deferred compensation plans, participants in the Pension Restoration Plan were given a one-time opportunity during 2006 to elect the form of payment as either a lump sum or annual installments over a period of up to 10 years, and were also allowed to elect the timing of payment to be either the year following termination of employment or any later year, not to exceed the year in which the participant reaches age 75. Participants in the RIAP with a benefit earned or vested after December 31, 2004 also were given a similar one-time opportunity during 2006 to elect the form and timing of payment of RIAP benefits earned and vested after December 31, 2004. Participants may make a separate payment election for RIAP benefits earned and vested on or before December 31, 2004 based on the provisions of the RIAP in effect on December 31, 2004. Pension Restoration Plan and RIAP participants may change their payment elections in limited circumstances.

 

Frozen SERPs. At Mr. Moynihan’s request, we froze his participation in the Fleet SERP effective December 31, 2005. Mr. Darnell participates in the Bank of America SERP, which was frozen effective December 31, 2002. As a result, no further benefits accrue under either SERP for these named executive officers.

 

Prior to being frozen, each SERP provided a target retirement benefit expressed as a percentage of final average compensation, offset by benefits from the applicable tax-qualified pension plan and pension restoration plan and, in the case of the Bank of America SERP, offset by Social Security.

 

The frozen Fleet SERP benefits are expressed as an annual joint and 75% survivor annuity commencing at age 60, and the frozen Bank of America SERP benefits for Mr. Darnell are expressed as an annual joint and 66-2/3% survivor annuity commencing at age 60. The frozen annuity benefit is actuarially reduced for commencement prior to age 60 or actuarially increased for commencement after age 60. At the time his benefit was frozen, Mr. Moynihan elected to receive an actuarially equivalent lump sum payment of his plan benefits. Mr. Darnell may elect from actuarially equivalent lump sum and installment payment options in advance of his retirement in accordance with the terms of the Bank of America SERP. Actuarial equivalency under the Fleet SERP is based on the actuarial assumptions that were in effect under the Legacy Fleet Pension Plan for 2005, the year that SERP was frozen. Likewise, actuarial equivalency under the Bank of America SERP is based on the actuarial assumptions that were in effect under the Bank of America Pension Plan for 2002, the year that SERP was frozen.

 

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Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

The following table shows information about the participation by each named executive officer in our nonqualified deferred compensation plans:

 

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation in 2011

 

Name   Plan Name   Executive
Contributions
in 2011
($) (1)
    Registrant
Contributions
in 2011
($) (2)
    Aggregate
Earnings
in 2011
($)
    Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
($)
    Aggregate
Balance at
December 31,
2011
($) (3)
 

Brian T. Moynihan

  401(k) Restoration Plan     7,143        250        890        0        218,014   
  ESP     0        0        (8,729     0        302,299   
  Fleet Deferred Compensation Plan     0        0        97,172        0        906,940   
  Stock Salary Award     0        0        (1,288,990     1,199,926        688,806   

Bruce R. Thompson

  401(k) Restoration Plan     0        0        75,818        0        2,601,437   
  Long Term Cash Award     0        0        0        346,075        346,077   

Charles H. Noski

  401(k) Restoration Plan     0        0        0        0        0   

David C. Darnell

  401(k) Restoration Plan     0        0        253,561        0        6,376,838   
  Long Term Cash Award     0        0        0        78,053        78,053   
  Stock Salary Award     0        0        (1,041,089     969,185        556,328   

Gary G. Lynch

  401(k) Restoration Plan     0        0        0        0        0   

Thomas K. Montag

  Stock Salary Award     0        0        (2,252,703     2,097,319        1,203,740   

(1)   Amounts in this column represent named executive officer elective deferrals credited during 2011 under the Bank of America 401(k) Restoration Plan, comprised of the deferred portion of base salary otherwise payable in 2011.

 

(2)   Amounts in this column represent matching contributions credited during 2012 under the Bank of America 401(k) Restoration Plan, which were determined based on 2011 deferrals.

 

(3)   The following table identifies amounts that have already been reported as compensation in our Summary Compensation Table for the current or prior years:

 

Name  

Amount of 2011 Contributions
and Earnings Reported As
Compensation in 2011

Summary Compensation
Table

    Amounts in “Aggregate Balance
at December 31, 2011” Column
Reported As Compensation in
Summary Compensation Tables
for Prior Years
 

Brian T. Moynihan

    43,104        5,583,423   

Bruce R. Thompson

    0        250   

Charles H. Noski

    0        0   

David C. Darnell

    0        0   

Gary G. Lynch

    0        0   

Thomas K. Montag

    0        9,313,461   

 

The amounts in the table above for Messrs. Moynihan and Montag include stock salary deferred based on the original value previously reported as compensation and do not reflect earnings, losses or distributions.

 

The following describes the material features of our nonqualified deferred compensation plans in which the named executive officers participate.

 

Stock Salary. Certain of the named executive officers received stock salary awards during 2009. These awards were granted in connection with our participation in the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) during 2009 in accordance with Treasury Department regulations and determinations by the Office of the Special Master of TARP Executive Compensation. The material terms of the awards are as follows:

 

   

The awards were vested upon grant.

 

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The awards were payable in 36 monthly installments beginning January 2011, provided that payments would be accelerated by 12 months upon repayment of our TARP financing. As a result of our repayment of all TARP financing in December 2009, the payment schedule was accelerated to 36 monthly installments beginning January 2010.

 

   

The awards do not receive any dividends or dividend equivalents.

 

   

Payments are made in cash based on the closing price of our common stock on the last business day of each month during the payment period. Section 16 filings are made with the SEC on a monthly basis upon settlement of these units in cash because the value of these stock salary awards is linked to the value of our common stock.

 

   

Although vested, payments are not accelerated for termination of employment (except for death) and are subject to forfeiture (in whole or in part) in case of termination for cause or violation of certain covenants regarding detrimental conduct, solicitation and violation of anti-hedging or derivative transaction policies.

 

   

We retain the right to reduce or recover from the stock salary any losses if it is determined that a named executive officer engaged in certain detrimental conduct or engaged in certain hedging or derivative transactions involving our common stock.

 

   

The awards also specifically provide that they are subject to the Incentive Compensation Recoupment Policy and the recoupment requirements under TARP.

 

401(k) Restoration Plan. The named executive officers, other than Mr. Montag, are eligible to participate in the Bank of America 401(k) Restoration Plan (401(k) Restoration Plan). Messrs. Lynch and Noski did not participate in the 401(k) Restoration Plan for 2011. Mr. Montag does not participate in a comparable plan.

 

The 401(k) Restoration Plan is available to certain employees with annual salary or total cash compensation in excess of the compensation limit applicable to tax-qualified plans (for participation in 2011, this was $245,000). The 401(k) Restoration Plan is a nonqualified retirement savings plan that provides “make up” benefits for participants in The Bank of America 401(k) Plan or The Bank of America 401(k) Plan for Legacy Companies (401(k) Plans) whose contributions are adversely affected due to limits applicable to tax-qualified plans.

 

Under the plan, participants may defer up to 30% of base salary after reaching the 401(k) Plans’ limits and up to 90% of commissions and most cash incentives. Participants who have completed at least 12 months of service are also eligible for a matching contribution. We match 100% of the first 5% of participant deferrals. However, no matching contributions are made on a combined basis under the 401(k) Plans and the 401(k) Restoration Plan on any compensation for the year in excess of $250,000, resulting in a maximum matching contribution on a combined basis of $12,500.

 

Accounts under the 401(k) Restoration Plan are adjusted for investment gains and losses based on the performance of certain hypothetical investment choices selected by the participant. These investment choices are the same investment choices available under the 401(k) Plans. Participants may change their investment elections at any time under the same rules that apply under the 401(k) Plans.

 

When participants make their deferral elections for a year, they also elect how those deferrals will ultimately be paid. Participants may elect a lump sum or installments of up to 10 years, and the timing may be the year following termination of employment or any other year, before or after termination of employment, as specified by the participant, but not beyond the year the participant turns age 75. As a result, planned in-service distributions are available. A separate distribution election is made for matching contributions, but payment for these amounts cannot begin before termination of employment. Changes to payment elections are permitted in limited circumstances. Participants may also request unplanned in-service distributions in limited emergency situations.

 

FleetBoston Financial Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan No. 2. Mr. Moynihan also participates in the FleetBoston Financial Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan No. 2 (Fleet Deferred Compensation Plan), which is a nonqualified retirement savings plan intended to provide eligible employees with the ability to defer receipt of certain types of compensation. Mr. Moynihan deferred incentive awards under this plan during the period from 1994 to 1997. No deferrals have been permitted under this plan since 2002.

 

Deferrals made under the plan before 1998 are credited with interest at an annual rate of 12%. Under the terms of the plan, as a result of the FleetBoston acquisition, we cannot amend the plan to change this rate. Deferrals made under the plan between 1998 and 2001 are credited with interest at an annual rate of 4% and deferrals made under the plan in 2002 receive interest based on the return for 1 year T-bills.

 

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Benefits are payable in a lump sum or annual installments of up to 15 years commencing in the year of employment termination or any later year as elected by the participant, but not beyond the year the participant turns age 65. Participants may change the time or form of payment with an election made at least 12 months before their employment ends. Participants were able to schedule an in-service payment at the time deferral elections were originally made. Participants may also request unplanned in-service distributions in limited emergency situations and in-service withdrawals in the absence of hardship also are permitted subject to a withdrawal penalty.

 

FleetBoston Financial Corporation Executive Supplemental Plan. Mr. Moynihan also participates in the FleetBoston Financial Corporation Executive Supplemental Plan (ESP). Similar to the 401(k) Restoration Plan, the ESP provided “make up” benefits for certain participants in The Bank of America 401(k) Plan for Legacy Companies whose contributions were adversely affected due to limits applicable to tax-qualified plans. However, no contributions have been made to the ESP since December 31, 2004.

 

Accounts under the ESP are adjusted for investment gains and losses based on the performance of four hypothetical investment choices selected by the participant. Participants may change their investment elections at any time under the same rules that apply under the 401(k) Plans. Investment returns in 2011 for the following investment choices were: Columbia Core Bond Fund, 7.25%; Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund, (2.83)%; Invesco Van Kampen Equity & Income Fund, (1.23)%; and Stable Value Fund, 3.03%. Benefits are payable in a lump sum or annual installments of up to 15 years commencing in the year of employment termination or any later year as elected by the participant, but not beyond the year the participant turns age 65. However, participants younger than age 55 may not elect installments. Participants may change the time or form of payment with an election made at least 12 months before their employment ends. Participants may also request unplanned in-service distributions in limited emergency situations.

 

Long-Term Cash Award. Mr. Thompson received a long-term cash award in February 2009 related to performance during 2008 under a program applicable below the executive officer level. This award provides payment of a stated cash amount not linked to the value of our common stock in three annual installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date. Interest was taken into account when the stated cash amount was initially determined, and no additional interest accrues on the award during the three-year payment period.

 

Generally, the executive must remain employed through each scheduled payment date to receive payment, and a voluntary termination by the executive or termination by our company for cause prior to the scheduled payment date results in forfeiture. However, for an executive who meets the Rule of 60 (see “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” below for a definition of “Rule of 60”), the award continues to vest if the executive complies with certain covenants, does not go to work for a competitive business during the original payment period, and annually provides us with a written certification that he or she is in compliance with this requirement. For SEC disclosure rule purposes, we treat these long-term cash awards as “vested” and report the amounts as earned in the Summary Compensation Table as of the date the executive is eligible for Rule of 60 treatment, and therefore the portion of the award payable after that date is reported in the table above as nonqualified deferred compensation. Mr. Thompson met the eligibility requirements for Rule of 60 treatment during 2010.

 

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Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

 

We do not have any agreements with our executive officers that provide for cash severance payments upon termination of employment or in connection with a change in control. In addition, under our policy regarding executive severance agreements, we will not enter into employment or severance agreements with our executive officers that provide severance benefits exceeding two times base salary and bonus, unless the agreement has been approved by our stockholders.

 

Our equity awards include standard provisions that result in the vesting or forfeiture of awards upon termination of employment, depending on the reason for termination. These provisions for awards granted in 2011 are described in more detail under “Grants of Plan-Based Awards,” and those details can be found for awards granted in prior years in our prior proxy statements. In general, our awards for performance year 2009 and later include the following rules that allow for a continued opportunity to vest in the award per the original vesting schedule after certain types of termination of employment:

 

   

If the executive resigns or is terminated without cause after meeting the “Rule of 60,” the award continues to vest if the executive complies with certain covenants, does not go to work for a competitive business during the original vesting period and annually provides us with a written certification that he or she is in compliance with this requirement. Rule of 60 is met when an employee has at least 10 years of service and his or her age and years of service add up to at least 60. Currently, each of the named executive officers, other than Messrs. Lynch and Noski, meets the Rule of 60. In accordance with their respective offer letters, Mr. Lynch qualifies for the equivalent of Rule of 60 treatment for any outstanding equity awards at the second anniversary of his hire date and Mr. Noski qualifies for such treatment beginning at age 60. To receive this treatment under their respective offer letters, each executive must comply with all applicable covenants in the equity award agreements and provide our company with a general release of claims.

 

   

If the executive is terminated without cause in connection with a workforce reduction or divestiture, the award continues to vest if the executive complies with certain covenants and executes any required release of claims, but non-competition provisions do not apply.

 

   

In both cases above, the awards remain subject to the performance-based clawback, and as a result may be canceled in whole or in part if losses occur during the vesting period. The awards also remain subject to cancellation or recovery if the executive is found to have engaged in detrimental conduct.

 

Under Mr. Montag’s 2008 offer letter with Merrill Lynch, his equity awards must continue to vest per the vesting schedule, subject to any conditions in the applicable award agreements (other than a non-compete) for any involuntary termination without cause or resignation for “good reason.” No additional cash severance payments are due under his offer letter. See the chart below for additional detail on the definition of “good reason” under his agreement.

 

For equity awards granted before April 2010, the terms of our Stock Plan provided for “single trigger” full vesting upon a change in control. Our Stock Plan was amended and approved by our stockholders at our 2010 annual meeting. For awards granted under the amended Stock Plan after April 2010, “single trigger” vesting no longer applies. Instead, the awards are designed to either vest in full or continue to vest per schedule in case of a termination of employment without cause or with good reason within two years after a change in control – often referred to as “double trigger” vesting.

 

The following chart shows the value of equity awards that would have become vested or forfeited, or that could have continued to vest subject to the non-compete or compliance with covenants, as applicable, for a termination of employment and/or a change in control as of December 31, 2011. For this purpose, restricted stock was valued at our closing price as of December 31, 2011, and stock options were valued as the difference between our closing price as of that date and the applicable exercise price of the stock options. On this basis, as of December 31, 2011 all of the unvested stock options had a value of $0. Due to the number of factors that affect the nature and amount of any benefits provided upon the events discussed above, any actual amounts paid or distributed may be different. Factors that could affect these amounts include the time during the year of any such event and the price of our common stock.

 

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Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control as of December 31, 2011

 

Name   For Cause     Death     Disability     Workforce Reduction / Divestiture  
 

Forfeit

($)

   

Immediate

Vesting

($)

   

Fully Vested

($)

   

Pay per

Schedule,

Subject to

Conditions

($) (1)

   

Fully Vested

($)

   

Pay per

Schedule,

Subject to

Conditions

($) (1)

   

Forfeit

($)

 

Brian T. Moynihan

    3,451,170        3,451,170        0        3,451,170        0        3,451,170        0   

Bruce R. Thompson

    6,829,393        6,829,393        658,543        6,170,850        601,337        6,170,849        57,207   

Charles H. Noski

    1,887,664        1,887,664        57,207        1,830,457        0        0        1,887,664   

David C. Darnell

    2,311,094        2,311,094        289,967        2,021,127        232,760        2,021,127        57,207   

Gary G. Lynch

    5,908,842        5,908,842        0        5,908,842        0        5,908,842        0   

Thomas K. Montag (2)

    8,097,078        8,097,078        2,643,852        5,453,226        2,586,645        5,453,226        57,207   

 

Name  

Any Other Involuntary

Termination Without Cause

   

Voluntary

Termination

   

Upon Change

in Control (3)

 
 

Fully

Vested

($)

   

Pay per

Schedule,

Subject to

Conditions

($) (1)

   

Forfeit

($)

   

Pay per

Schedule,

Subject to

Conditions

($) (1)

   

Forfeit

($)

   

Single
Trigger –
Immediate

Vesting

($)

   

Double
Trigger –
Immediate
or
Continued
Vesting

($)

   

No

Impact,

Vest per

Schedule

($)

 

Brian T. Moynihan

    0        3,451,170        0        3,451,170        0        0        3,451,170        0   

Bruce R. Thompson

    346,077        6,426,109        57,207        6,504,162        325,231        3,642,295        2,783,814        403,284   

Charles H. Noski

    0        0        1,887,664        0        1,887,664        0        1,830,457        57,207   

David C. Darnell

    78,053        2,175,834        57,207        2,253,887        57,207        154,707        2,021,127        135,260   

Gary G. Lynch

    0        5,908,842        0        0        5,908,842        0        5,908,842        0   

Thomas K. Montag (2)

    2,586,645        5,453,226        57,207        8,039,871        57,207        2,586,645        5,453,226        57,207   

(1)   For awards granted for performance year 2008 included in this chart, the conditions to continued vesting per schedule generally relate to “Rule of 60” treatment, as described above. Beginning with awards granted for performance year 2009, the conditions to continued vesting include (i) compliance with covenants regarding non-solicitation, detrimental conduct and compliance with anti-hedging/derivative transactions policies and (ii) the performance-based clawback described above, and for “Any Other Involuntary Termination Without Cause” and “Voluntary Termination” also include the “Rule of 60” conditions described above. The table includes, where applicable, the value of PRSUs assuming the maximum number of units are earned, although actual payout is dependent upon the future achievement of specified return on assets goals (except in case of death or termination following double-trigger change in control).

 

(2)   Mr. Montag’s 2008 offer letter defines cause as (i) his engagement in (A) willful misconduct resulting in material harm to our company or (B) gross negligence in connection with the performance of his duties; or (ii) his conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a felony or any other crime involving fraud, financial misconduct or misappropriation of company assets, or that would disqualify him from employment in the securities industry (other than a temporary disqualification). For Mr. Montag, “Any Other Involuntary Termination Without Cause” includes a resignation by him for “good reason” under his 2008 employment agreement, defined as a resignation following: (i) a meaningful and detrimental alteration in the nature of the executive’s responsibilities or authority, (ii) the executive’s reporting to an executive other than the CEO of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. during the three-year period beginning on August 4, 2008, or (iii) a material reduction in the executive’s total annual compensation that is not experienced generally by similarly situated employees.

 

(3)  

For awards with double-trigger vesting provisions, the award vests in connection with a change in control only if, within two years following the change in control, the executive’s employment is terminated by the company without “cause” or by the executive for “good reason.” The award may either vest immediately upon such termination of employment or continue to vest per schedule, depending on the terms of the applicable award agreement. The definition of “cause” is described in more detail under “Grants of Plan-Based Awards.” The definition of “good

 

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reason” for this purpose means (i) a material diminution in the executive’s responsibility, authority or duty, (ii) a material reduction in the executive’s base salary (with certain exceptions) or (iii) a relocation greater than 50 miles. Certain notice and cure requirements apply in order to claim “good reason.”

 

Following termination of employment, our named executive officers receive payment of retirement benefits and nonqualified deferred compensation benefits under our various plans in which they participate to the extent vested. The value of those benefits as of December 31, 2011 is set forth in the sections above entitled “Pension Benefits” and “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation.” (Please note that the “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table” includes the value of stock salary awards.) There are no special or enhanced benefits under those plans for our named executive officers, and all of our named executive officers, except for Mr. Noski, are fully vested in those benefits. However, under the Bank of America Pension Plan and Pension Restoration Plan, participants can become fully vested in their benefits prior to completion of three years of service in case of death, disability or termination due to workforce reduction, realignment or similar measure.

 

We make benefit, tax and financial advisory services available to our executive officers during their employment with us. This benefit continues through the end of the year in which they cease employment, including preparation of that year’s tax return. However, in the case of a termination for cause, the benefit stops immediately.

 

Bank of America employees who retire and meet the Rule of 60 have access to continued coverage under our group health plan, but the employee generally must pay for the full cost of that coverage on an after-tax basis without any employer subsidy. Under an agreement entered into with Merrill Lynch, Mr. Montag will be able to access non-subsidized retiree medical coverage if he retires before attaining the Rule of 60, so long as he does not work for or accept another position with a competitor.

 

An employee who is a former NationsBank employee and who was hired before January 1, 2000 is eligible for an annual supplement to help cover the cost of retiree medical benefits if he or she meets the “Rule of 75” at termination. The amount of this supplement equals $30 per year of service. An employee meets the Rule of 75 if he or she retires after age 50, with at least 15 years of vesting service under our pension plan, and with a combined age and years of service of 75 or more. As of the end of the last fiscal year, the only named executive officer eligible for these benefits is Mr. Darnell. The amount of the annual retiree medical benefit supplement for Mr. Darnell based on his years of service through December 31, 2011 is $960. This supplement continues at a 50% rate for the life of the surviving spouse.

 

Also, all eligible employees hired before January 1, 2006 who meet the Rule of 75 when they terminate receive $5,000 of retiree life insurance coverage. As of the end of the last fiscal year, only Mr. Darnell would have qualified for this benefit.

 

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Stock Ownership of Directors, Executive Officers and Certain Beneficial Owners

 

Our voting securities are our common stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series 1-8 Preferred Stock. The following table shows the number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned as of March 14, 2012 by (i) each director, (ii) each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table, (iii) all directors and executive officers as a group, and (iv) beneficial owners of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities (as determined under SEC rules). As of that date, none of our directors and executive officers owned any shares of any class of our equity securities, other than as reported in the table below. Each director, each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table and all directors and executive officers as a group beneficially owned less than 1% of our outstanding common stock. Unless otherwise noted, all shares of our common stock are subject to the sole voting and investment power of the directors and executive officers.

 

Name   Beneficial Ownership              
 

Shares and

Restricted

Shares

   

Options/
Warrants
Exercisable

within 60 days
of 3/14/2012

   

Total

Beneficial
Ownership

   

Stock
Units

(1) (2)

    Total  

Mukesh D. Ambani

    14,896         —        14,896         —        14,896   

Susan S. Bies

    83,043         —        83,043         —        83,043   

Frank P. Bramble, Sr.

    111,680         —        111,680        53,060        164,740   

Virgis W. Colbert

    52,556         —        52,556        9,064        61,620   

David C. Darnell

    159,027        663,750        822,777        981,367        1,804,144   

Charles K. Gifford (3)

    313,489         —        313,489        62,498        375,987   

Charles O. Holliday, Jr.

    81,833         —        81,833         —        81,833   

D. Paul Jones, Jr.

    76,843         —        76,843         —        76,843   

Monica C. Lozano

    3,000         —        3,000        53,614        56,614   

Gary G. Lynch

    91,198         —        91,198        710,214        801,412   

Thomas J. May (4)

    34,503         —        34,503        100,646        135,149   

Thomas K. Montag (5)

    1,532,849        2,102,216        3,635,065        2,191,366        5,826,431   

Brian T. Moynihan

    485,987        746,667        1,232,654        1,477,026        2,709,680   

Charles H. Noski

    21,000         —        21,000        585,823        606,823   

Donald E. Powell (6)

    88,150         —        88,150        26,367        114,517   

Charles O. Rossotti

    39,929         —        39,929        72,600        112,529   

Robert W. Scully (7)

    130,216         —        130,216         —        130,216   

Bruce R. Thompson

    275,069        142,957        418,026        1,902,319        2,320,345   

All directors and executive officers
as a group (20 persons) (8)

    3,815,913        3,717,890        7,533,803        9,221,441        16,755,244   

Warren E. Buffett/
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (9)

     —        700,000,000        700,000,000         —        700,000,000   

(1)   For non-management directors, includes stock units credited to their accounts pursuant to deferrals made under the terms of the Director Deferral Plan. These stock units are not considered beneficially owned under SEC rules. Each unit has a value equal to the fair market value of a share of our common stock. These units, which are held in individual accounts in each director’s name, will be paid in cash upon the director’s retirement if vested at that time. For Mr. Rossotti, also includes 6,206 stock units payable in cash held under the Merrill Lynch Non-Employee Fee Deferral Plan.

 

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Table of Contents
(2)   Includes the following stock units which are not treated as beneficially owned under SEC rules because they cannot be acquired within 60 days of March 14, 2012 and/or will be paid in cash:

 

Name   RSUs     Stock Salary
Units
   

Cash-Settled
RSUs

(CRSUs)

   

Performance
Contingent
RSUs

(PRSUs)

   

Total

Stock Units

 

David C. Darnell

           76,974               904,393        981,367   

Gary G. Lynch

    710,214                             710,214   

Thomas K. Montag

           166,544        125,787        1,899,035        2,191,366   

Brian T. Moynihan

           95,305        228,302        1,153,419        1,477,026   

Charles H. Noski

                         585,823        585,823   

Bruce R. Thompson

    609,179